Maya: They were already producing salt 15 centuries ago

In the past, the salt it was considered a very valuable good because it was very rare. nonostfor everything, it was an indispensable element in the diet even in ancient times. for civilization Maya this article was slowyou important to be a precious sacrifice to the gods and a exchange rate.

In addition to giving food flavor, salt was essential to make it possible food storage in a tropical climate and at a time when there were no refrigerators. An investigation conducted byCambridge University allowed to discover how this was produced and distributed in Mayan society, as well as identify the role it played.

The researchers examined a underwater archaeological site in Belize, in the Payne Creek National Park where a village called Ta’ab Nuk Na was discovered, inhabited between 600 and 800 AD, in which the houses had some Kitchens able to produce salt, process salted and dried products e stores store goods.

The site is well preserved as it is covered by a anaerobic mangrove peat. The lack of oxygen prevented micro-organisms from attacking the archaeological remains and thus allowed optimal preservation.

It turned out that the salt was produced by theseawater in ceramic vessels that were heated to complete evaporation of water. The excess salt was sold to neighboring populations. Next to these kitchens, buildings were found that were used for salting and drying the fish in order to preserve them in a tropical climate.