The most important uses for papyrus were paper, mats, boats, baskets, sandals, and ropes.

     Paper was the most important use of papyrus. papyrus paper was and valuable because it was hard to make. A skilled scribe can make 5, 30 feet papyrus scrolls a year. The center of the papyrus plant called the pith was made into the paper like substance. To make papyrus paper people first cut the pith into several small slips. Then they placed two layers on each other at right angles and beat them until the papyrus fused.

     The papyrus plant itself was a plant the grew on the the banks of the Nile. It had a triangular shape and grew up to 2 1/2 meters tall. It was lost off the Nile because of over harvested. Papyrus was once so important it was used in the hieroglyphic for part of Egypt.    

 A papyrus plant in the Uganda marshes. Picture by Ingo Wölbern