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

It teaches how to save old papyrus papers.

It is the only one like it in the Americas.

It is one of few in the world.

Nine scholars took part.

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

Students worked on old sheets.

People had not touched them for about 100 years.

Michigan has one of the biggest 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 has writings by Epicurus.

It has the oldest known copy of the Epistles of Paul.

Marieka Kaye manages preservation at the university library.

She said she tries to make the work easy.

Many people feel very scared when they touch old things.

The course teaches how to clean, store, and write about the fragile texts.

Papyrus and its ink can break or smear.

So students learn to take away dirt with care.

They use a little water to make folds soft.

The course began in 2012.

It runs every two years.

It did not run in 2020.

About 50 students have finished it.

Curator Giuliano Sidro said training new conservators is very important.

If not, the skill will be lost.

Michigan got its collection from buying and digging at Karanis, Egypt.

That was between 1924 and 1935.

Some students can read old 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 be a link between nations.