How Paper is Made Author:David C. Cooke The word "paper" comes from papyrus, which the Egyptians first used as a writing surface about five thousand years ago. The ancient people split the stalks of the papyrus reed, then cross-wove them into a mat which was pounded flat on a smooth stone. Papyrus was the first step in the development of paper, but it was rough and crude and difficu... more »lt to make.« less