BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A study has found life was tough for ordinary ancient Egyptians, quite contrary to earlier images of wealth and abudance from art records of the ancient Egyptian city of Tell el-Amarna, according to reports Monday. 

    Tell el-Amarna was built by Akhenaten, who ruled Egypt between 1379 and 1362 BC and lived in the city in central Egypt for 15 years. The city was largely abandoned shortly after his death.

    Studies on the remains of ordinary ancient Egyptians in a cemetery in Tell el-Amarna showed that many of them suffered from anemia, fractured bones, stunted growth and high juvenile mortality rates, according to professors Barry Kemp and Jerome Rose, who led the research.

    Paintings in the tombs of the nobles show an abundance of offerings, but the remains of ordinary people tell a different story.

    Rose displayed pictures showing spinal injuries among teenagers, probably because of accidents during construction work to build the city.

    The study showed that anemia ran at 74 percent among children and teenagers, and at 44 percent among adults, Rose said.

    "We are seeing a more realistic picture of what life was like," Reuters quoted Kemp as saying. "It has nothing to do with the intentions of Akhenaten, which may have been good and paternal toward his people."

(Agencies)