1. Harvesting: Papyrus reeds are harvested from wetlands and riverbanks. The ideal time for harvesting is when the reeds are mature, typically during the winter months.
2. Stripping: The outer layers of the reed are carefully removed to reveal the inner, fibrous layers. These fibrous layers are the raw material for making papyrus.
3. Cutting: The stripped reeds are cut into strips of desired length, usually around 12-18 inches.
4. Pounding: The reed strips are beaten with a mallet or a heavy object to flatten and soften the fibers. This process releases the natural adhesive inside the reeds.
5. Layering: Two or more flattened reed strips are placed side by side, slightly overlapping. The adhesive released during pounding causes the strips to stick together, forming a sheet.
6. Pressing: The reed sheets are stacked and pressed under heavy weights or stones to ensure a tightly-woven structure.
7. Drying: The pressed sheets are left to dry under the sun until they become stiff and brittle.
The dried papyrus sheets can then be trimmed, smoothed, and used for various purposes, including writing, painting, and crafting. In ancient times, papyrus was widely used as a writing material in Egypt and other parts of the ancient world.