# Scientists find deadly virus DNA hidden in 1,000-year-old manuscripts

Source: [Fossils & Ruins News -- ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261106174545.htm) · 2026-11-11 · Life
Page: https://themorning.science/story/scientists-find-deadly-virus-dna-hidden-in-1-000-year-old-manuscripts-806cc78ecb2394f2
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- Traces of DNA from a deadly sheep virus were found in ancient manuscripts, including the 1,000-year-old York Gospels.
- The virus's history stretches back more than 3,700 years, according to the reported findings.
- Scientists found the virus has remained remarkably unchanged for millennia.

## Why it matters

The finding suggests parchment can preserve viral genetic material for centuries, which could help researchers trace the long history of animal pathogens.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-11: Scientists' findings on virus DNA in the manuscripts reported by ScienceDaily

## Coverage

- [Scientists find deadly virus DNA hidden in 1,000-year-old manuscripts](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261106174545.htm) — Fossils & Ruins News -- ScienceDaily, 2026-11-11

Tags: ancient dna, virology, manuscripts, parchment, sheep virus, paleogenomics

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science