Mariam Amash

Who was Mariam Amash?

Mariam Amash was an Arab-Israeli woman of Bedouin descent, who claimed to be the oldest person ever.

According to her Ottoman Empire-issued birth certificate, Amash was born in the Ottoman Empire in 1888, near the town of Jisr az-Zarqa in northern Israel, where she lived most of her life. The discovery that she may be the oldest person in the world came when she applied for an identity card from the Israeli government using that birth certificate. Israeli officials confirmed that she was listed in the Israeli population registry as having been born in 1888, although they were unsure if it is correct.

The Guinness Book of Records, the group who authorizes the "official" oldest living person record, have not yet validated her claim. If Amash's birth date were verified, she would become the oldest person ever, surpassing Jeanne Calment.

In February 2008, Amash was reported as being "remarkably sprightly", with 10 children, 120 grandchildren, 250 great-grandchildren and 20–30 great-great-grandchildren. Amash said the key to longevity is a healthy diet abundant in vegetables.