The oldest known archaeological fragments of the immediate precursor to modern paper, date to the <answer>2nd</answer> century BC in China. The pulp papermaking process is ascribed to Cai Lun, a <answer>2nd</answer>-century AD Han court eunuch. With paper as an effective substitute for silk in many applications, China could export silk in greater quantity, contributing to a Golden Age.
What century is the first papermaking process attributed to?
2nd