Mobility and disease at the edge of the Roman Empire: Palaeogenomic insights from Fallward, northern Germany
Human mobility was a major factor which shaped cultural and societal transformations in Late Antiquity, driving the exchange of people, ideas and disease across Europe. Yet, despite this understanding, the genetic and pathogen landscape of many communities from this period remain uncharacterised. Here we present the first palaeogenomic investigation of inhabitants of the coastal settlement of Fallward (3rd - 5th century AD) in present-day northwestern Germany. Genomic data from three individuals revealed heterogeneous ancestries: two aligned closely with northwestern European Iron Age populations, while one adult male exhibited affinities with Roman frontier groups from central-eastern Europe. Metagenomic screening further identified that this man was infected with an early lineage of Mycobacterium leprae. Combined with the Roman-influenced grave goods accompanying his elaborate burial, these findings suggest he or his recent ancestors may have had close connections to the populations living at the frontier of the Roman Empire. Overall, the results highlight the complex mobility networks and cross-cultural interactions of Late Antiquity, even involving small and remote communities such as Fallward.