Salt production, distribution and use in the British Iron Age
The study of salt during British prehistory has experienced an awakening during the past 40 years led in large measure by the work of Dr Elaine Morris of Southampton University. The earliest salt production in Britain using an industrial ceramic known as briquetage is now firmly dated to the Middle Bronze Age and its use extends to the early Roman period. While prehistoric salt production in Lincolnshire was addressed in 2001 by Lane and Morris, other regional production areas have not had similar modern syntheses. This thesis will explore the evidence for the production of salt in the coastal regions of Essex, along the south coast and at the Droitwich salt springs in the prehistoric period. The evidence for the distribution of salt from Essex, the south coast and the salt springs of Droitwich and Cheshire will be reviewed based upon discussion of briquetage finds. Morris' Specific Salt Container Index (SSCI) will be utilised to support this analysis. The models for and implications of salt distribution networks will be considered. A more speculative discussion of non-archaeologically visible distribution will also be presented. Four case studies comparing Iron Age sites in salt producing and salt using regions
Kinory, Janice L.
Archeology ; Materials studies (archaeology)
Salt production, distribution and use in the British Iron Age. The study of salt during British prehistory has experienced an awakening during the past 40 years led in large measure by the work of Dr Elaine Morris of Southampton University. The earliest salt production in Britain using an industrial ceramic known as briquetage is now firmly dated to the Middle Bronze Age and its use extends to the early Roman period. While prehistoric salt production in Lincolnshire was addressed in 2001 by Lane and Morris, other regional production areas have not had similar modern syntheses. This thesis will explore the evidence for the production of salt in the coastal regions of Essex, along the south coast and at the Droitwich salt springs in the prehistoric period. The evidence for the distribution of salt from Essex, the south coast and the salt springs of Droitwich and Cheshire will be reviewed based upon discussion of briquetage finds. Morris' Specific Salt Container Index (SSCI) will be utilised to support this analysis. The models for and implications of salt distribution networks will be considered. A more speculative discussion of non-archaeologically visible distribution will also be presented. Four case studies comparing Iron Age sites in salt producing and salt using regions
salt production_distribution use british_iron_age study salt british_prehistory experience awaken past lead large measure work morris southampton university early salt production britain use industrial ceramic know firmly date middle_bronze_age use extend early_roman period prehistoric salt production lincolnshire address morris regional production area similar modern synthesis explore evidence production salt coastal_region essex along south coast salt spring prehistoric_period evidence distribution salt essex south coast salt spring cheshire review base_upon discussion find morris specific salt container index utilise support analysis model implication salt distribution network consider speculative discussion non archaeologically_visible distribution also_present four_case study compare iron_age site salt produce salt use region