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The text known as The Satire of the Trades extols the virtues of being a scribe compared to other jobs but, although not physically demanding, the positions and repetitive tasks involved could still take their toll on the body according to new research reported in by Petra Brukner Havelková et al. in Scientific Reports. The team analysed 69 male skeletons from high-status burials in the Old Kingdom necropolis at Abusir, 30 of which were known to be scribes. Although there were only small differences overall between the scribes and non-scribes (none of whom carried out intense physical labour), the scribes showed a significantly higher incidence of degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis in certain joints, particularly in the lower jaw, the cervical area of the spine, the right collarbone and shoulder, the right thumb, and right knee. Although there are some age-related factors (scribes tended to live longer than those with more onerous roles), these changes are likely to have been the result of sitting cross-legged or kneeling for long periods of time, with the head hanging down in front and the spine curved. Extreme overloading of the lower jaw joint, while associated with these spinal changes, could have been exacerbated by the constant need to bite off and chew reed pens while working.
Text: Sarah Griffiths
