Another fascinating read, Jeanine. Imagine how many civilizations and tribes of people have completely fascinating stories to tell, but the information has gotten lost sometime along the way, over the generations.
I especially like your substack because I always learn something new. Well done, Jeanine!
Thank you Paulette. Thereâs a lot coming out about it, as more archaeologists get into the game. And a fair share these days of women in the field, so a good balance.
I was surprised to learn how something as simple and common as salt played such a powerful role in the Maya economy. It made me reflect on how we often overlook everyday items that were once life-sustaining and incredibly valuable. Thanks for bringing the Maya to us, Jeanine.
Itâs true, Tinashe. Simple things. I guess in a way it was the first âspice?â to adjust food tastes? And itâs such a great preserver. I love learning all this stuff and also love to share it, thanks for reading! And thank you for restacking!
I wrote hundreds of blogs for Invisa Hotels about Ibiza and mentioned the history of the salt flats, fascinating how much this would have boosted economies at one point! Thank you for unearthing this for us, keeping our brains learning and our eyes open.
I didnât know Ibiza had salt flats. Salt really is a staple, so guess itâs a constant source of income. Thank you for reading, Nadine! I really appreciate it. And itâs fun to uncover little known facts. PS some of the flats are actually quite beautiful, like the one in Rio Lagartos.
Everything about the Maya is amazing! The fact that we are still finding out new things about how their society worked is equally amazing! This is a relatively recent discovery, right? I mean, it is logical that they would make and trade salt, and figure out how to preserve meat and fish with it, but still incredible when you think about it! Great article, Jeanine! That they were great traders, we would even know from sites in the US Southwest, since they found traces of cacao and macaw feathers originating from the Maya areas, up in our neck of the woods... and their roads were so well made! I would've liked to be a trader if I lived in their time... can you imagine how far they may have traveled? By foot, no less. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent, the salt story is another amazing thing about them!
It is so true, Emese. So creative, inventive. McKillop has been studying that site 30 years but initially nothing to do with salt. Think her brainstorm came in her collaboration with her Japanese associate who worked with their metal and tools. I love that she just kept digging and divingâ and Iâm excited that underwater archaeology is becoming a thing. I just read an astounding book on world catastrophes often including floods. Two underwater areas discovered. One near Denmark. The other northern Israel, and how archaeologists are âminingâ them for info, dating back 7k years and 8.5k years. Itâs so lucky the Maya wrote in stone or weâd know little about them. Yes, being a trader wouldâve been so amazingâwanderer that you are ):
You're right, underwater archaeology is exciting! It stands the reason they would have some great discoveries, floods still happen often, and in ancient times, they would've buried all towns. The numbers are crazy, dating info up to or even more than 8k years! I'll have to look them up. I'm sure we'll hear about more and more archaeological sites getting discovered underwater!
Denmark one is called Doggerland, it was submerged after the Great Drowning -from 7k to 9k yrs ago, submerged everything; it was the flood Before Noah's (which it's said would have been about 2k yrs ago which sounds kind of recent). The other is near Haifa, Tel Hreiz, quite the model city of its day. Super interesting--that is why the Maya salt site was a lucky thing--the anemones think they said preserved the wood etc.
Whaaaa? I suppose none of us should be shocked. We live on a saltwater planet. And salt is alluring, like chocolate. Speaking of which, the Venn crossover between Aztec chocolate and Mayan salt is a pretty tasty combo. I wonder if they ever tried it?
Fascinating. Gracias, Jeanine. đ¸đ¸
Thank you Luna!
Another fascinating read, Jeanine. Imagine how many civilizations and tribes of people have completely fascinating stories to tell, but the information has gotten lost sometime along the way, over the generations.
I especially like your substack because I always learn something new. Well done, Jeanine!
An early ambition of my childhood - underwater archeology :) Some people get the coolest jobs. LOL! Thanks for giving us new armchair adventures!
Thanks for reading, Lausanne.
Thanks for the restack @Bernardette HernĂĄndez
I really appreciate how you keep sharing new and fascinating information about the Mayan culture, Jeanine!
Thank you Paulette. Thereâs a lot coming out about it, as more archaeologists get into the game. And a fair share these days of women in the field, so a good balance.
I was surprised to learn how something as simple and common as salt played such a powerful role in the Maya economy. It made me reflect on how we often overlook everyday items that were once life-sustaining and incredibly valuable. Thanks for bringing the Maya to us, Jeanine.
Itâs true, Tinashe. Simple things. I guess in a way it was the first âspice?â to adjust food tastes? And itâs such a great preserver. I love learning all this stuff and also love to share it, thanks for reading! And thank you for restacking!
Another enthralling insight into Mayan civilisation
This was really interesting, Jeanine. It's amazing how important the trade in salt was all over the ancient world.
I wrote hundreds of blogs for Invisa Hotels about Ibiza and mentioned the history of the salt flats, fascinating how much this would have boosted economies at one point! Thank you for unearthing this for us, keeping our brains learning and our eyes open.
I didnât know Ibiza had salt flats. Salt really is a staple, so guess itâs a constant source of income. Thank you for reading, Nadine! I really appreciate it. And itâs fun to uncover little known facts. PS some of the flats are actually quite beautiful, like the one in Rio Lagartos.
It's why the flamingos love it!
https://www.invisahoteles.com/en/blog/day-out-ses-salines-natural-park-ibiza/
Yes!!!
Gracias @C G Karas for the restack!
Thanks for restack @Autumn of the species.
Everything about the Maya is amazing! The fact that we are still finding out new things about how their society worked is equally amazing! This is a relatively recent discovery, right? I mean, it is logical that they would make and trade salt, and figure out how to preserve meat and fish with it, but still incredible when you think about it! Great article, Jeanine! That they were great traders, we would even know from sites in the US Southwest, since they found traces of cacao and macaw feathers originating from the Maya areas, up in our neck of the woods... and their roads were so well made! I would've liked to be a trader if I lived in their time... can you imagine how far they may have traveled? By foot, no less. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent, the salt story is another amazing thing about them!
It is so true, Emese. So creative, inventive. McKillop has been studying that site 30 years but initially nothing to do with salt. Think her brainstorm came in her collaboration with her Japanese associate who worked with their metal and tools. I love that she just kept digging and divingâ and Iâm excited that underwater archaeology is becoming a thing. I just read an astounding book on world catastrophes often including floods. Two underwater areas discovered. One near Denmark. The other northern Israel, and how archaeologists are âminingâ them for info, dating back 7k years and 8.5k years. Itâs so lucky the Maya wrote in stone or weâd know little about them. Yes, being a trader wouldâve been so amazingâwanderer that you are ):
You're right, underwater archaeology is exciting! It stands the reason they would have some great discoveries, floods still happen often, and in ancient times, they would've buried all towns. The numbers are crazy, dating info up to or even more than 8k years! I'll have to look them up. I'm sure we'll hear about more and more archaeological sites getting discovered underwater!
Denmark one is called Doggerland, it was submerged after the Great Drowning -from 7k to 9k yrs ago, submerged everything; it was the flood Before Noah's (which it's said would have been about 2k yrs ago which sounds kind of recent). The other is near Haifa, Tel Hreiz, quite the model city of its day. Super interesting--that is why the Maya salt site was a lucky thing--the anemones think they said preserved the wood etc.
You write some of the most interesting articles on Substack, Jeanine! I never knew about this.
Another fascinating post Jeanine! I learn something else that I didnât know about one of my favorite countries each week.
Thank you, Jennifer!!
Thank you, Jennifer.
Always, always learn so much from Mexico Soul.
Whaaaa? I suppose none of us should be shocked. We live on a saltwater planet. And salt is alluring, like chocolate. Speaking of which, the Venn crossover between Aztec chocolate and Mayan salt is a pretty tasty combo. I wonder if they ever tried it?
They may well have! They were already adding foam to their chocolate, rather inventive, so maybe a bit of Mayan salt w/ their chocolate too!!