The University of Michigan runs a rare 10-day course.

It teaches how to save ancient papyrus manuscripts.

It is the only course like this in the Americas.

It is also one of few in the world.

Nine scholars took part.

They came from countries like China, Ireland, Italy, and the U.S.

Students worked on sheets that had likely not been touched for a hundred years.

Michigan has one of the largest papyrus collections in the world.

The texts are from 1000 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E.

The collection has parts of Homer's epics.

It also has writings by Epicurus.

And it has the oldest known copy of the Epistles of Paul.

Marieka Kaye manages preservation services at the university library.

She said she tries to make the work comfortable.

Many people feel terrified when they handle ancient items.

The course teaches ways to clean, store, and document the fragile texts.

Papyrus and its ink can crumble or smear.

So students learn to remove debris carefully.

They also use controlled moisture to soften folds.

The seminar started in 2012.

It runs every two years, but not in 2020.

About 50 students have finished it.

Curator Giuliano Sidro said training new conservators is very important.

If not, the craft will be lost.

Michigan's collection came from purchases and excavations at Karanis, Egypt.

That happened between 1924 and 1935.

Some participants can read the ancient languages.

These include Arabic, Greek, Latin, and Egyptian.

One student from Egypt said she will share what she learned.

She will do this in her home country and in Australia.

She will act as a link between nations.