We found few family ties among the 400 individuals—far fewer than in medieval Cambridge (UK). Only near the abbey, in the cemetery’s oldest part, were relatives more often buried together. Likely a reflection of social status. (8/9)

The plague left no significant impact on the population’s genetic makeup. We also found no evidence of lasting changes in immune gene diversity.
Other pathogens linked to poverty and poor hygiene were detected too, including Borrelia and Leptospira. (7/9)

For the first time, we found direct evidence of the plague in medieval Flanders: Yersinia pestis DNA in five individuals from the 14th century.
They were scattered across the cemetery—not in mass graves. No historical record from 14th-century Sint-Truiden mentions the plague at that time. (6/9)

From the 11th century onward, the population became genetically more homogeneous—similar to today’s people from region. This was result of centuries of mixing between ‘Gallic’ (blue) & ‘Germanic’ (orange) ancestral groups, shaping north-south genetic gradient still visible in Low Countries. (5/9)

The earliest inhabitants (8th–10th century) were remarkably genetically diverse (red on PCA). Differences between Flemish sites were then almost as large as those between present-day Flemish & Spanish populations. We even found 5 individuals with ancestry similar to medieval Irish or Scots. (4/9)

Teeth from 400 individuals were sampled as sterile as possible for ancient DNA. The result: a genetic timeline of a millennium, spread across the entire cemetery. (3/9)

In 2019, more than 3000 skeletons were excavated beneath the Groenmarkt in Sint-Truiden, the historic cemetery of the Church of Our Lady. For centuries, it lay also in the shadow of the influential abbey of Saint Trudo (†693). (2/9)

Discover our results of the largest ancient DNA study ever conducted on a single burial site: 400 skeletons from the Belgian city Sint-Truiden (8th–18th century). A unique glimpse into 1000 years of genetic history. (1/9) @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social

Dit weekend is het groot feest in Leuven voor de 600ste verjaardag van onze alma mater KU Leuven! 🎉🍾
Zoveel te beleven maar je kan starten met mijn 600 sec lezing over 'Het DNA-verhaal van Vlaanderen'. 🧬
Iedereen welkom om 10u in de promotiezaal, Naamsestraat 22 www.kuleuven.be/600jaar/prog...