Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Historically, hemp makes its appearance
at 6200-4000
BC
, has been found depicting
clothing that, on analysis, was shown to be
made from hemp. Other remains of hemp,
including hemp seeds, have been found in
the graves of nobles (2100-1900
BC
), thus
demonstrating that hemp was in use during
these times.
Rope dating from 5000 to 4000
BC
has
also been recovered, while the oldest paper
made from hemp was discovered in a tomb
dating from 2685 to 2138
BC
.
Samples of lightly starched paper (easier to
write on) were found at Hatanpo (
c
.200-150
BC
). Similar artefacts were also found at Junguan,
dating from 70 to 50
BC
.
Finally, we must not omit to mention
Tsaï-Lun, Chinese Minister of Agriculture, who
in 105
BC
commercialized paper made from
hemp and the bark of mulberry.
The recovery of seeds and grain from as
far away as Mongolia (2400
BC
), together with
the presence of hemp-derived paper and
textiles in occidental China (600
BC
), are par-
ticularly notable for they demonstrate that the
westward migration of people from these areas
towards Europe brought hemp to the shores of
the Black Sea.
Similarly, the migration of people south-
wards from, or through, Tibet and Nepal
brought hemp to India.
proportions of each plant fibre were clearly
specified, allowing variation in the upper limit
for hemp.
Hemp has also been found in Syria,
Egypt, Lebanon and North Africa. Archaeology
thus shows the spread of hemp from the Far
East to the Middle East. It is likely that this was
influenced in part by the psychotropic proper-
ties of the plant. Cannabis spread across North
Africa to reach the Atlantic Coast, where the
use of the compressed cannabis resin known
as hashish became customary.
2.3.4
Hemp in Europe
What evidence do we have of hemp from Gaul
and the Gallo-Roman world?
Pollen has been found in northern France,
the Eure-et-Loir, Seine Maritime, Mayenne and
the Loire estuary, as well as from the Aisne,
Marne and Somme. Each of these territories is
characterized by its humidity and is therefore
well suited to the cultivation and retting of hemp
(as well as flax).
This does not mean that hemp was being
cultivated, although there are very good rea-
sons for believing that it was: in a number of
these regions, hemp production has been
reported throughout history, and continues to
exist today. Certain texts mention hemp in the
Rhone Valley. This may, however, be hemp
imported from Greece, or brought through the
Dardanelles from Black Sea ports, or from
Riga through Gibraltar, headed for the Port of
Marseille.
At Chatham, Kent, the English built the
empire's navy. Now preserved as an historical
site, one can tour Hemp Houses 1, 2 and 3,
warehouse-sized buildings where hemp arriv-
ing from Riga, Latvia, was processed from raw
baled fibre to massive anchor ropes and other
riggings.
But the hempery of Marseille remains in
name only:
Canebière
is a well-known alley-
way that opens out into Marseille's
Vieux Port
,
or old harbour. The name recognized the fact
that this alleyway was the thoroughfare through
which much of the imported hemp was
transported.
2.3.3 The arrival of hemp in the
Middle East
Hemp also made its appearance in the Middle
East, with Persia acting as a staging post
between India and this region. It then spread
around the Mediterranean basin. In biblical
times (10th century
BC
), it was mentioned
in the calendar of the City of Gezer (a town
situated on the road to Jerusalem), where the
month in which hemp was due to be pulled up
was specified.
2
The texts mention that flax and hemp can
be woven together into a material, as they are
both products of the earth. In no case, how-
ever, is the weaving together of wool and hemp
permissible, as wool is an animal product. The
