Plant Based

Before the invention of paper as we know it today, papyrus plants and palm leaves were used as writing surfaces in Egypt and parts of southeast Asia, respectively.

The earliest Egyptian papyrus dates to around 3000 BCE. Taking its name from the plant, Cyperus papyrus, papyrus was made by removing the hard outer rind of the papyrus stem and then slicing the exposed pith lengthwise into numerous thin, sticky strips. The strips were laid next to each other, followed by a second layer laid perpendicular to the first. The layers were pounded together, causing them to adhere into a sheet which was dried flat under pressure. The finished sheets of papyrus could then be left as they were or glued together to form scrolls.

Palm leaf manuscripts date as early as the 5th century BCE. To create the writing surface, individual leaflets of large palm fronds were cut into uniform rectangles and then dried. Text was inscribed into each leaf with a sharp style. To help make the text more visible, the leaves were rubbed with a mixture of lampblack, bean plant or berry juice, and aromatic oils typically chosen for their insect repellant qualities. Leaves could be bound together by threading cords through two holes in each leaf.