Prehispanic Saltmaking in Belize: New Evidence

Abstract

The discovery of a number of prehispanic saltmaking sites on the southern coast of Belize by the Point Placencia Archaeological Project suggests a concern with local saltmaking during the Late Classic and perhaps later periods. Previously, only one small source was thought to have produced salt in prehispanic Belize, and it was believed that most of this mineral was imported from the northern coast of Yucatan. This paper describes the sites located by our survey and offers an interpretation of the local saltmaking process. It is suggested that Placencia salt was inferior in quality to that from Yucatan, and that it might have been consumed by commoners, while elites were able to obtain pure Yucatecan salt.

Identifying immigrants to Tikal, Guatemala: Defining local variability in strontium isotope ratios of human tooth enamel

“…Excavations on the coast of Belize show that salt was boiled in highly standardized ceramic vessels during the Classic period [29,33]. Mackinnon and Kepecs [29] suggested that this sal cocida (boiled salt) was exported inland for commoner consumption, while Peten elites may have consumed more exotic Yucatec sal solar, which is of higher quality. McKillop [33] has argued that salt production in coastal Belize was of a scale sufficient to supply the needs of large interior cities, like Tikal.…”

“…Sea salt has been produced on the north coast of the Yucata´n since prehispanic times and this area produced enormous quantities of salt (sal solar) by solar evaporation at the time of the conquest, well before it was industrialized [1,43]. Excavations on the coast of Belize show that salt was boiled in highly standardized ceramic vessels during the Classic period [29,33]. Mackinnon and Kepecs [29] suggested that this sal cocida (boiled salt) was exported inland for commoner consumption, while Peten elites may have consumed more exotic Yucatec sal solar, which is of higher quality.…”

The Elusive Maya Marketplace: An Archaeological Consideration of the Evidence

“…The submergence of the Caribbean coast since the Classic period makes it difficult to fully document processing sites (McKillop 1995b). Some have argued that the small salt-producing sites found along the Belize coast generated salt for meat preservation in addition to its use as a commodity for inland trade (MacKinnon and Kepecs 1989;Valdez and Mock 1991). Other meat resources that could be managed or collected seasonally include large birds, iguanas, and turtles.…”

Small-Scale Maya Lime Making in Belize: Ancient and Modern

“…Three Late/Terminal Classic sites on Placencia Lagoon -PL-4, 10, and 36 -show evidence of the presence of lime. If lime was produced at these sites, it was done on a very small scale, probably for immediate consumption or other use at sites which were seasonally inhabited primarily for salt making (MacKinnon and Kepecs 1989) and the procurement of other marine resources. The only evidence of lime production at these sites are a few lumps of cemented lime among other midden material.…”