The story of hemp begins in the cradle of human civilisation. Archaeological evidence suggests that hemp was among the very first plants ever cultivated, with traces of its use in ancient China dating back nearly ten thousand years. Early communities discovered that the tall, fibrous stalks could be transformed into rope, cloth and fishing nets, while the seeds offered a valuable source of nutrition. In ancient China, hemp was so important that it was considered one of the essential grains.

From China the knowledge of hemp spread westward across Asia and into Mesopotamia, where it became woven into the fabric of daily life. People used it to make textiles, paper and cordage long before many other materials existed. To walk through this hall is to stand at the very beginning of a relationship between humanity and a single plant — a relationship that would go on to shape the entire world.