Papyrus is a plant that was common in Egypt. The stems of the plant were used to make paper called papyrus. The outer skin was removed. The softer pith was made into papyrus by soaking the stems in water and then cutting them into thin strips. The strips were then beaten flat with a hammer. The flattened strips were placed on on top of another at right angles and pounded down so that the natural glue which bound them together was released from the stems. The sheets were dried under a weight. They were then attached together to form a roll.

Try making your own papyrus. Gather any type of reeds from a river bank or swampy area. Weave these together. Pound them with a mallet. Hang them up to dry.