papyrus

Thick paper-like writing material of anceint times, used principally in Egypt and other parts of the Mediteranean region.

Papyrus was made from strips of the the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt. The strips were then placed side by side on a hard surface with their edges slightly overlapping, and then another layer of strips was laid on top at a right angle. They were then soaked, pressed and dried.