Here's One Malady You Share With Ancient Egyptian Scribes
Ancient Egyptian scribes held high-status jobs, making up some of the 1% of Egyptians who could read and write at that time. But the scribes suffered for it: New research published in Scientific Reports reveals that the ancient documentarians suffered…
Ancient Egyptian scribes held high-status jobs, making up some of the 1% of Egyptians who could read and write at that time. But the scribes suffered for it: New research published in Scientific Reports reveals that the ancient documentarians suffered from osteoarthritis as a consequence of their labors.
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Ancient Egyptian scribes held high-status jobs, making up some of the 1% of Egyptians who could read and write at that time.
Based on reporting by gizmodo.com.



