Scientists recently discovered traces of an ancient disease in an unlikely place: the pages of a 1,000-year-old gospel book.The discovery, which centered on the York Gospels, was announced by University College Dublin (UCD) in early September.In a study recently published in Science Advances, UCD researchers traced thousands of years of evolution of the sheeppox virus using ancient DNA preserved in manuscripts and animal remains.DAMAGED FRAGMENT DEEMED 'UNREMARKABLE' TURNS OUT TO BE RARE PIECE OF HOMER'S 'ODYSSEY' HISTORYThe highly contagious disease affects sheep but is not known to infect humans.Researchers detected its DNA in the animal skins used to make parchment, according to the university.The York Gospels were written in Canterbury in the late 900s by Anglo-Saxon scribes and were later brought to York Minster — where they've been housed for centuries.The York Gospels, seen at left, were written by Anglo-Saxon scribes in Canterbury in the late 900s before reaching York Minster.
(Christopher Nicholson/Alamy; iStock)Unexpectedly, researchers found traces of sheeppox virus on parchment made from calfskin and goatskin, suggesting either cross-species infections or contamination during the parchment-making process.Comparing the manuscripts with DNA recovered from Bronze Age sheep teeth, researchers found that sheeppox has plagued livestock for over 3,700 years.LOST SERMONS FROM ONE OF CHRISTIANITY'S GREATEST SAINTS DISCOVERED AFTER 1,600 YEARSIn a statement, UCD described the York Gospels as a "biological time capsule" that preserved evidence of the virus for centuries."The research reveals that sheeppox has threatened livestock for more than 3,700 years," the university said.York Minster, seen above, is one of England's most famous Gothic cathedrals.It has housed the 1,000-year-old York Gospels for centuries.
(Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)"Unlike other skeletal material, teeth can preserve genetic evidence of infection over thousands of years, providing a ...