New research suggests that the plague may have played a role in the downfall of Stone Age farmers in Europe around 5,000 years ago.

A team of scientists from the University of Copenhagen analyzed DNA from the remains of 101 individuals who lived in Denmark and Germany during the Neolithic period. They found that 20 of the individuals had died from the plague, which is caused by the bacterium *Yersinia pestis*.

The researchers believe that the plague may have spread from rodents to humans, and that it could have caused a population decline that led to the collapse of the Neolithic farming culture.

The study, which was published in the journal *Current Biology*, is the first to provide direct evidence that the plague was present in Europe during the Neolithic period. It also suggests that the plague may have had a significant impact on human history.

"The plague is one of the most devastating diseases in human history," said study co-author Eske Willerslev. "Our study shows that the plague was present in Europe thousands of years earlier than previously thought, and it may have played a role in the downfall of the Neolithic farming culture."

The Neolithic period was a time of great change in Europe. The first farmers arrived from the Middle East around 7,000 years ago, and they brought with them new crops and animals. The Neolithic farmers also built large settlements and began to develop new technologies.

The Neolithic period came to an end around 3,000 BC, and it is believed that the climate change may have played a role in the decline of the farming culture. However, the new research suggests that the plague may also have been a factor.

"The plague is a very contagious disease, and it can spread quickly through a population," said Willerslev. "Our study shows that the plague was present in Europe at a time when the Neolithic farming culture was in decline, and it is possible that the disease may have contributed to the collapse of the culture."

The research team is now planning to conduct further studies to investigate the role of the plague in the downfall of the Neolithic farming culture.