Painting from the Tomb of Puimre, Second prophet of Amun – Reign of Thutmosis III, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty – Theban Tomb 39, Western Thebes, Khokha – A recording scribe from the tomb of Puimre. Scribes played an essential role in intellectual and cultural life by recording and preserving texts. The ancient Egyptian scribe used specific tools to write such as a wooden palette, two writing implements and red and black ink. Scribes generally used papyrus for writing, but they also used clay tablets and animal skin.