The material typically used in Ancient Egypt to make any type of inscription is known by the name of papyrus. Similar to paper, papyrus was a fine and delicate support that was obtained from the processing of the papyrus plant, the one that was especially abundant on the banks of the Nile River. Papyrus is very characteristic of hieroglyphic inscriptions and is normally associated with this civilization since its use was very particular and almost unique while in other parts of the world other materials were used.
It is considered that papyrus was one of the forms directly prior to paper since its manufacture started from the processing of a vegetable plant, unlike the parchment that was obtained after properly working the skin of different animals. Papyrus was therefore much cheaper since the resources to make it, as well as its manufacturing process involved much less work and investment.
To do this, different plates of papyrus that had previously been cut into thin sheets were interposed and superimposed and thus dried in the sun to become a comfortable and easy-to-use support. The papyrus had a yellowish to almost brownish color and that is why the use of dyes and colors had to take into account the transformation of their color from the color of the support.
Normally, papyrus was used to make any type of handwritten inscription, although normally these were made for administrative, political and religious purposes (writing a privilege that only some individuals in society could access). Papyrus, being a highly delicate material that is easy to break, had to be stored and maintained in the appropriate conditions to ensure its survival through the years. In general, they were kept rolled up inside cylinders that protected them from humidity and temperature.
