2019 study confirms that Hemp is the strongest natural fiber on earth !

Pollen fossil records show that hemp and its ancestors have their roots in Central Asia, in what is now China. Hemp is thought to have played a pivotal role in helping humanity transition from being simple hunter-gatherers to agriculturalists, fishing communities, and sailors - its fibres were strong enough to weave rope and thread, which bound weapons and made the first items of clothing. The oldest surviving archaeological samples of finished material were rope, binding fibres, and ceremonial clothing are more than 10,000 years old (7000 BP) and were discovered across China and the Japanese peninsula.  

The Antrea Net is the oldest known fishing net in the world, dating to around 9350 BP. Analysis revealed it was woven with linen from willow - and strengthened with hemp fibres. Many other archaeological finds conducted across maritime civilisations have shown their preference for utilising hemp in fishing tools. But hemp’s relationship with the sea doesn’t end there. Bronze age civilisations soon began using hemp cordage and weaves for their sea-faring - another tradition that remains today.  

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https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/7/12/106/htm