“After harvesting the Cyprus papyrus plant [specially cultivated papyrus that was grown on plantations], the outer fibers are peeled away and the core of the stalk is sliced into very thin strips that are as broad as possible. . . .
These papyrus strips are next soaked in water for around three days, removing the sugar content and making the fibers flexible and transparent.
When the papyrus is removed from the water it is very soft and quite spongy. It is rolled flat and left to dry a little before the strips are cut to the desired length. Next, the papyrus strips are pounded and the excess water drained away, after which they are placed side by side, overlapping slightly. A second set of papyrus strips are placed at right angles to the first, again overlapping slightly. Next, this raw papyrus sheet is pounded once again, and left under a heavy weight (usually a stone slab) to dry for approximately six days. The remaining sugar within the papyrus seals the strips together. Finally, after drying, the surface of the papyrus sheet is polished to a smooth finish by rubbing it with, for example, a shell or a piece of smooth ivory. . . .
For longer documents, pages were joined to create a papyrus roll (scroll). In fact, papyrus sheets were usually not sold individually, but in rolls (of about 20 sheets), with the fibers running in the same direction, except for the end sheets, which were reversed in order to add strength. However, in later periods, we also find papyrus books, which finally triumphed over the papyrus roll.”
Question: Which of the following claims can best be justified considering the papyrus process described in the excerpt?
33 points