Archaeological Discovery in Aswan Sheds Light on Ancient Egypt's Early Encounter with Rheumatoid Arthritis

In a groundbreaking find, the joint Italian-Polish archaeological mission unearthed the skeletal remains of a young woman afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis at the Sheikh Muhammad site in Aswan . This discovery, part of the Aswan- Kom Ombo Temple Archaeological Project (AKAP), marks the first diagnosed case of rheumatoid arthritis in ancient Egypt and one of the oldest known cases worldwide. The significance of this finding cannot be overstated. Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the joints, has long been associated with modern medical knowledge, having been clinically defined in the seventeenth dynasty . However, the discovery at Sheikh Muhammad's site challenges this timeline, providing clear evidence of the presence of the disease in ancient Egypt. The skeletal remains of the young woman offer a unique opportunity for further scientific research. Scholars and experts are eager to conduct comprehensive studies on the skeleton, delving into its in...