Scientists studying rats preserved mummified in tar say they are close to unlocking the secrets of the deadly Black Plague.

Scientists studying preserved rats that were mummified in tar have claimed they are close to unlocking the secrets of the deadly Black Death.

Archaeologists have unearthed two 650-year-old rodents and stomach and hair samples are being analyzed in Finland for signs of plague.

They were found in surprisingly good condition and still have a “rat-like appearance”, even though they date from 1373. said The Times.

The find will be broadcast on Channel 4’s Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World on April 13.

They were found in surprisingly good condition and still have a “rat-like appearance”, even though they date back to 1373 (File Image)

They were discovered in the wreck of the Hanseatic ship Tallinn in Estonia.

Bettany told The Times: ‘A tar barrel fell and mummified them, so they were preserved in tar.

“You do not obtain organic material like that which has been preserved since the 14th century. It’s almost unheard of.

“My jaw was on the floor because I didn’t expect [the remains] keep looking like a rat.

Hughes shared how the results could show which variant caused the Black Death.

Scientists hope that tests on the rats will reveal what the sailors were eating at the time, which could be what the rats were also eating.

The 700-year-old ship has revealed many secrets from the past after it was discovered in 2022 during construction work in the Estonian capital.

In 2008, other historical remains were also found 50 meters (164 ft) away.