Numerous sources suggest that hemp was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber as early as 50,000 years ago. This places the use of spun fibers in the Upper Paleolithic era, long before the development of agriculture.
While some sources cite archaeological evidence from Taiwan and the Middle East dating back to around 8000 BCE in relation to hemp use for pottery and cordage, others specifically state the 50,000-year figure for the practice of spinning hemp fibers into rope and textiles, likely in Asia or the Middle East.
Early humans would have used simple techniques, such as twisting fibers between their fingers or using a stick and stone as a basic spindle, to create yarn and thread from plants like hemp. These strong and durable fibers were then used for a variety of purposes, including clothing, ropes, and fishing nets.