News Anthropology

A Seasoned Ancient State: Chinese site adds salt to civilization’s rise

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

At an ancient Chinese settlement straddling a river, scientists have uncovered what they regard as the earliest strong archaeological evidence of salt making, dating to 4,000 or so years ago.

WITH THE GRAIN. Aerial view shows a sediment mound that contains the remains of a site in central China where salt making occurred 4,000 years ago.