Medieval manuscripts are “biological time capsules” for deadly sheeppox virus

September 2, 2026 · 9:20 pm 2 sources

Image: Ars Technica

Coverage

Coverage

• Medieval manuscripts are "biological time capsules" for deadly sheeppox virus
  Ars Technica · September 4, 2026 19:01
  Other archives and libraries around the world may also contain genetic traces of past disease outbreaks.

More coverage

• Hidden DNA in medieval gospels reveals history of deadly livestock virus
  Phys.org · September 2, 2026 21:20
  Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).