taken from graves stretching as far back as A.D. 550, DNA of the parasite was
discovered,proving the disease was endemic at least that far back. It is highly probable that
it has even more ancient origins: four of the Egyptian mummies carried the parasite’s DNA,
each dating from the Middle Kingdom period of 2050 to 1650 B.C., when trade ties with
Nubia were strongest. Egyptian mummies from prior and later periods showed no sign of
the disease.