Ancient Egypt is often associated with its pharaohs, pyramids and hieroglyphics. A new study reveals a lesser-known aspect of this civilization: the working conditions of scribes. These intellectuals, members of the administrative elite, played a crucial role in the management of the state. However, their daily tasks exposed them to specific health problems. Now, analysis of their skeletons sheds light on the physical impacts of their profession.
Ancient Egyptian Scribes: A Profession with Painful Consequences
Being a scribe in ancient Egypt was synonymous with prestige. Equipped with rare reading and writing skillsthese men were indeed the backbone of state administration, a skill held by only 1 to 5% of the ancient Egyptian population. However, the nobility of this career came with significant physical constraints. This new work published in the journal Scientific Reports bears witness to this.
A team of archaeologists recently examined the skeletons of 69 adult men, including 30 scribes. All were buried between 2700 and 2180 BC. in the necropolis of Abusir, a pyramidal funerary complex. The results then highlighted significant skeletal alterations in the scribes, compared to those of other men.
In particular, the researchers observed marked degenerative changes in their jointsparticularly in the right collarbone, right arm bone, lower right thigh bone, and upper vertebra of the spine. These skeletal changes are thought to be due to prolonged and repetitive work positions. The skeletons also had unique indentations in the kneecaps and flattened surfaces on the right ankle bones. The researchers believe these are telltale signs of their working postures.
Finally, scribes’ repetitive administrative tasks, such as chewing the ends of rush stems to create pens and manipulating them while writing, also left distinct traces in the jaws and the first bones of the right thumb which show significant wear. These are again the consequences of their professional activities.
An echo of modern office workers
The working conditions of ancient Egyptian scribes find surprisingly contemporary echoes. Much like today’s office workers, scribes spent long hours in unergonomic positions where they leaned forward to write, which shifted their center of gravity and put pressure on the spine. Specifically, scribes often worked cross-legged or kneeling on the left leg, while the right leg was bent and the papyrus rested on the thigh, which put intensive strain on certain joints and caused premature wear.
Petra Brukner Havelková, the study’s lead author and an anthropologist at the National Museum in Prague, points out that these postures could lead to disorders similar to those seen in modern workerssuch as neck and shoulder pain.
In short, the study of the skeletons of ancient Egyptian scribes reveals the physical costs of their prestigious careers. Although they belonged to the elite and played a vital role in the management of the state, their bodies bear the marks of sedentary and repetitive workreflecting the challenges of ergonomics that we still face today. These findings also offer a new perspective on the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians, reminding us that even the most respected professions had their downsides.
