The once-once-flourishing Aztec civilization could have died out due to a deadly disease introduced by Europeans. Back then, it was called cocoliztli or plague in the Aztec language. Currently, scientists believe that the cause of the deadly disease was the Salmonella strain Paratyphi C.

This hypothesis was put forward by scientists.

Although smallpox had previously been blamed for the Aztecs' extinction, recent DNA analysis sheds new light on the mysterious disease that nearly wiped them out.

The Aztecs flourished until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. But between 1545 and 1550, they were overwhelmed by a deadly outbreak of disease that claimed millions of lives in a matter of days. This epidemic was characterized by fever and profuse bleeding.

Researchers identified a strain of salmonella, Paratyphi C, as a probable culprit, potentially introduced by European colonizers.

A prolonged drought at the time increased the death toll. Human sacrifice, a ritual practice, further weakened the Aztecs.

While the salmonella hypothesis offers insight, it remains inconclusive, underscoring the complexity of unraveling the Aztec tragedy. Whether ravaged by disease, climate, or colonialism's fallout, the Aztecs' demise underscores the enduring impact of historical epidemics on indigenous populations, a somber chapter in human history.

Earlier, Apostrophe wrote that French archaeologists have discovered a horseshoe-shaped building from the Neolithic period during excavations in Merliens.