Analysis of DNA from mummified remains in Chile has confirmed a long-held theory that European colonists introduced smallpox to the Americas, leading to widespread devastation of indigenous populations. The study, published in the journal Science, provides the first direct molecular evidence of this historical event.
Smallpox, caused by the Variola virus, was one of history's deadliest infectious diseases, characterized by scarring pustules. It is estimated to have killed 95% of the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas, significantly aiding the subsequent European conquest. The virus was eradicated globally in 1980 with the development of vaccination.
Researchers re-examined bone samples from a repository in northern Chile. Gene analysis of two mummified skeletons, a woman aged 30-35 and a man aged 18-20, revealed traces of ancient smallpox DNA. The genetic makeup of these strains was found to be similar to European strains, marking the first evidence of the disease in that region.
The mummies were interred during the Spanish colonial period. By dating the remains, researchers determined the individuals likely died from smallpox between 1492 and 1631. This timeline aligns with historical accounts of the Spanish conquest, including the killing of the Inca emperor in the early 1530s.
While the introduction of smallpox to the Americas via colonization has long been accepted, this study offers definitive molecular proof. The precise source of the initial outbreak remains unclear, as European settlers arrived in successive waves. It is also uncertain whether the disease spread accidentally or was deliberately introduced as a form of biological warfare. Regardless of intent, historians note that the impact of these epidemics, against which native populations had no immunity, fundamentally altered the course of colonization in the Americas.