Hemp in the Middle Ages: textiles, ropes and historical evidence
In the Middle Ages, hemp was more than a plant used in medicine. Its fibres also served as a raw material for textiles and ropes. Their importance varied by region, period and craft context. Specific archaeological finds are therefore particularly revealing: they tell us more than sweeping claims that almost everything used to be made from hemp.
What archaeological textiles reveal about hemp
A study published in 2013 analysed ten Scandinavian plant-fibre textiles from the Viking Age and early Middle Ages. Four contained hemp; three combined hemp and flax. The samples included two examined sections of the Överhogdal textiles. The pieces studied had previously been classified as flax. Read the original study of Scandinavian hemp textiles.
The findings broaden the picture: hemp was not used there exclusively for coarse products. At the same time, a small selection of surviving textiles cannot establish the composition of all medieval clothing. Archaeological research examines specific objects, rather than a complete inventory of everyday life at the time.
From hemp stalk to usable fibre
The fibres lie in the outer part of the stalk. Before processing, they must be separated from other plant components. Retting was an important historical technique: moisture and biological decomposition loosen the connections between fibre bundles and the surrounding tissue.
A study of hemp-fibre remains from Lake Słone in Poland provides a particularly clear example. The remains are associated with retting in the seventh to eighth centuries. Modern spectroscopic analyses examined their surviving components and changes during decomposition. Read the study of early medieval hemp fibres and retting.
Such finds make a less visible part of history tangible: not only finished fabrics but also raw-material processing left traces. A history of medieval hemp therefore includes working methods and production sites as well as famous individual objects.
Hemp ropes, shipping and regional economies
Hemp can be processed into fibre products such as ropes and fabrics. A pollen analysis from Muddymore Pit near Lydd in south-east England found particularly high proportions of hemp pollen. The authors interpret the site as a historical retting pit and discuss a connection with the nearby port's demand for cordage and sailcloth. Read the original study of the English retting site.
The connection with the port is a scientifically reasoned interpretation. It is not equivalent to a delivery note for a particular ship. Distinguishing between a find, its dating and its interpretation helps make accounts of historical use transparent.
Why hemp and flax can be confused
Old plant fibres are not always easy to identify. Preservation and analytical methods affect what can be established about an individual find. The Scandinavian investigation demonstrates why traditional material identifications need to be checked. Calling a piece ‘linen’ does not, by itself, establish its botanical identity.
Conversely, a historical rope or fabric should not be identified as hemp merely because of its age. Reliable identification requires suitable analysis or a precise description of the object.
The Gutenberg Bible and US Constitution: putting the stories in context
The claim that the Gutenberg Bible was invariably printed on hemp paper is too broad. The Library of Congress describes copies on paper and on parchment; its own copy was printed on specially prepared animal skin. Read the material description of the Gutenberg Bible.
The US Constitution dates from 1787, not the Middle Ages. The surviving signed document was written on parchment, as the National Archives explain in their discussion of paper and parchment. This does not establish the fibre composition of every historical draft.
Discovering hemp's history without exaggeration
The verifiable finds are remarkable in their own right: they connect agriculture, craft, textile production and trade. There is no need to claim that all important documents or garments were made from hemp. Read more in our history of cannabis and our article about Henry Ford's 1941 plastic-bodied car.
Sources and further evidence
The following sources are already linked in the text. The short English descriptions are provided for orientation; the original titles and bibliographic details are available in the linked publications.
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