Egyptian scribes suffered work-related injuries, study says | Higher incidence of damage to hips, jaws and thumbs reveals their writing efforts may have taken a toll
Egyptian scribes suffered work-related injuries, study says | Higher incidence of damage to hips, jaws and thumbs reveals their writing efforts may have taken a toll

www.nature.com
Ancient Egyptian scribes and specific skeletal occupational risk markers (Abusir, Old Kingdom) - Scientific Reports

Additional article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/27/egyptian-scribes-work-related-injuries-study
I get the damage to the thumbs, but what in being a scribe would cause more damage to the jaw or hips than anyone else?
It says why in the article. They sat cross-legged and chewed on the end of rushes to make a brush.
Didn't realize that; interesting to know, thanks.
Oops it's in the article "They said changes around the jaw could also be linked to such postures, or the habit of scribes to chew their rush tools to make a brush-like head."