Reed pens ( ; singular ) are a type of
writing implement with a long history. They are made by cutting and shaping a single
reed straw or length of
bamboo. Reed pens with regular features such as a split
nib have been found in
Ancient Egyptian sites dating from the 4th century BC. Reed pens were used for writing on
papyrus, and were the most common writing implement at the time the
New Testament of the
Bible was written.