Disclosed is a solid activated carbon and a process for manufacturing the solid activated carbon which is particularly suitable for electrode materials used in an electric double layer capacitor and various batteries. The use of the solid activated carbon makes it possible to prepare an activated carbon substrate having high mechanical strength and practical capacitance while the content of activated carbon is high. The solid activated carbon comprises an activated carbon powder and/or an activated carbon fiber, a carburized substance of a PVA or a resin derived from PVA, and a PVA or a resin derived from PVA. The process for manufacturing the solid activated carbon comprises, molding a molding material consisting of an activated carbon powder and/or an activated carbon fiber, a PVA or a resin derived from PVA or a mixture of a PVA or a resin derived from PVA and a mesophase using a known molding method, aging the molded compact in air and heat-treating the aged compact in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.