Study Reveals Occupational Hazards Faced by Ancient Egyptian

Analysis of skeletal remains uncovers unique bone damage linked to repetitive writing tasks in the Old Kingdom era.

Researchers examined remains of 69 men from a necropolis in Abusir, identifying 30 as scribes through tomb inscriptions.
Scribes showed higher instances of osteoarthritis and specific skeletal changes compared to non-scribes.
Bone damage was linked to prolonged sitting, kneeling, and cross-legged positions used during writing.
Jaw stress was notable due to chewing on rush pens, which scribes used as writing implements.
The study integrates bioarchaeological evidence with Egyptological records to understand the physical toll on scribes.