Ancient Egyptian scribes held eminent - position jobs , making up some of the1 % of Egyptianswho could read and write at that time . But the scriber suffered for it : New researchpublishedin Scientific Reports reveals that the ancient documentarians bear from osteoarthritis as a consequence of their DoL .
The find was made by a team of archaeologists who studied the remains of 69 adult male found in the necropolis at Abusir , Egypt , which was used between 2700 BCE and 2180 BCE . The team find statistically significant differences in the skeletal traits of the scribes compare to a reference universe ; those degenerative alteration were concentrated in the joints , spinal column , and jaw of the scribes .
“ Most of these statistically significant differences ” in skeletal traits “ show a higher prevalence of the discover changes among the scribes ( 90 % ) , which allows us to deduct that they might be related to scribal activity , ” the researchers wrote , though they noted that factors such as age can not be rule out as a cause of some of the disfigurements .
Scribe statuettes from the tomb of Meketre.Photo:Metropolitan Museum of Art
“ Officials with scribal skills belonged to the elite group of the time and formed the spinal column of the country administration , ” Veronika Dulíková , an Egyptologist at Charles University and carbon monoxide - writer of the study , told LiveScience . Fitting , then , that the penman ’ own back would feel the weight of the realm , and carry evidence of it to the grave accent .
“ In a distinctive penman ’s workings attitude , the head had to be forward , and the spine flexed , changing the centre of gravity of the head and putting strain on the spikelet , ” the research team wrote in the paper . Over time , the encumbrance put on the upper spikelet — in special the C7 - T1 move segment , the generator remark — could cause degenerative effects in the cervical spine of the Ancient Egyptian scribes .
Another disfigurement identified in the skeletal corpse was to the temporomandibular joint , familiarly known as TMJ . TMJ disorder are responsible for for jaw painful sensation in many the great unwashed today ; in the scribes , the team pen , it was probably triggered by chewing the brushing used to compose hieroglyphs ( in that regard , the scribes ’ condition likely differ from most innovative TMJ disorder ) . Other upper body disfigurements let in degenerative joint disease in the mitt , which “ probably reflects pinch grip piece of work , such as frequent gripping of the playpen , ” the squad noted . Anyone who took a standardized test with a No . 2 pencil growing up can probably relate .
The working position of the scribe would affect their jaw, upper spine, lower back, shoulder, and joints.Illustration:Jolana Malátková
In the humble organic structure , the researcher find a higher relative incidence of osteoarthritis in the pelvic arch , knee , and ankle , show that the scratch awl may have preferred a specific sitting posture “ which could also cause overloading of the lumbar spine . ” If you have n’t yet , please consider your own stance as you read this clause and set it consequently .
More : Ancient Egyptians seek to Surgically Treat Cancer , Study Finds
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