Ancient Hemp

For many people in today's society the word hemp still holds many misconceptions. To understand hemp's place in the world today we must first look to the past. 

Archeologists agree that Hemp was the first known plant to be used in organized cultivation. The origins were thought to be in Central Asia pre 10,000 BC in the area now known as Iraq. 

In China, artifacts recovered suggest that hemp was used extensively in the formation of Chinese civilization. The Chinese used hemp for making textiles, food, medicine and even weaponry.

Agricultural research has revealed that the primitive twisting of hemp cords ultimately led to the discovery of spinning and weaving of fibers into cloth. The first common fabric worn by man was made from hemp. 

How did this vital material that supported mankind for so long suddenly become taboo? Read on.

One of the oldest medical books in human history dates back 3,700 years. “Pen Tsao” written by Emperor Chen Nung classified hemp as one of the “Superior Elixirs of Immortality”.  

Recent Archaeological discoveries in China contain Hemp fibres which date back to 1000 years BC. 

The oldest paper in the world was discovered in China and dates back to 140 BC, it contains hemp fiber.

From 100 CE (Common Era) to early 1900's hemp was one of the worlds most traded and highly used commodities. It was the “super plant” that the world relied on for everything from rope, weaponry, tools, food and medicine. In the 1800's hemp was Russia's largest agricultural export.  By the early 1900's this reliance on Russian hemp would be the beginning of Hemps down fall.