Researchers have identified smallpox DNA in two ancient mummies from Chile, dating back over 400 years, offering the first molecular evidence that Europeans introduced the virus to the Americas.

The analysis appears in a peer-reviewed study examining preserved human remains from the Inca period. Scientists extracted and sequenced viral DNA from the mummies, confirming the presence of smallpox virus and establishing its European origin through genetic comparison with known historical strains.

This finding resolves a longstanding historical question. Chroniclers documented that smallpox devastated indigenous populations after European contact, but researchers lacked direct biological proof linking the epidemic disease to European sources. The DNA evidence now provides definitive confirmation that the virus arrived from the Old World rather than emerging independently in the Americas.

Smallpox killed an estimated 90 percent of indigenous populations in some regions during the 16th and 17th centuries. The disease became a catastrophic force in colonial history, reshaping demographics and social structures across the hemisphere. Until now, historians relied on written accounts and circumstantial evidence to establish this connection.

The mummies' preservation in Chile's dry climate allowed researchers to recover intact viral genetic material, which typically degrades rapidly. The team compared the recovered sequences with historical smallpox genomes and contemporary strains to trace the virus's geographic origin. The genetic data conclusively pointed to European sources rather than African or Asian origins.

This research demonstrates the power of ancient DNA analysis in solving historical epidemiological puzzles. It also illustrates how microbial remains can survive in archaeological specimens when environmental conditions are favorable. The findings contribute to understanding disease transmission networks during the Age of Exploration and the catastrophic health consequences indigenous peoples faced following transatlantic contact.

The study reinforces documented history through molecular methods, closing a gap between textual records and biological evidence. As genomic technology continues advancing, researchers expect to extract pathogen DNA from