The Ancient Sa Huỳnh Salt Field of Nearly 2,000 Years Old

Quảng Ngãi, a land rich in cultural and historical traditions, has recently added another significant discovery related to the salt-making techniques of ancient Sa Huỳnh people. On July 10th, during a survey of archaeological sites belonging to the Sa Huỳnh culture, Dr. Đoàn Ngọc Khôi, Deputy Director of the Quảng Ngãi General Museum, discovered a 10-hectare salt field located on a rocky slope in the village of Gò Cỏ, dating back approximately 2,000 years. This is crucial evidence proving that the Sa Huỳnh people possessed advanced salt-making techniques thousands of years ago.

1. Location and Significance of the Ancient Salt Field

The ancient salt field was found between the sea and the mountains, near Gò Cỏ village, in Phổ Thạnh Commune, Đức Phổ Town, Quảng Ngãi. This site is about 800 meters from the residential area of the ancient Sa Huỳnh people and about 500 meters from their burial grounds. The discovery of this ancient salt field not only reveals the richness of the lives of the ancient inhabitants but also adds new insights into salt production in Sa Huỳnh culture – one of Vietnam’s most important prehistoric cultures.

Ancient Salt-Making Techniques at the Ancient Sa Huỳnh Salt Village – Viet Nam         By: Mr Đoan Ngoc Khoi

2. Unique Salt-Making Techniques of the Sa Huỳnh People

According to Dr. Đoàn Ngọc Khôi, the salt-making techniques of the Sa Huỳnh people in Gò Cỏ village were unique and ingenious. The ancients utilized natural rocky slopes as basins to hold seawater when the tide rose. The seawater was then exposed to sunlight to increase its salinity. Afterward, the brine was collected and poured into hollows in the rock. This process was repeated until the salt crystals thickened, and after about a week, 2-3 kilograms of salt could be harvested from each salt field.

This salt-making tradition was continued and developed by the Sa Huỳnh people through the Champa and Đại Việt periods. Especially in the Cỏ hamlet, some families still practice the traditional method of making salt on basalt rocks. The salt produced is very white, clean, with sparkling crystals, a moderate salinity, and a distinctive sweet aftertaste. This clearly shows that the salt-making craft has thrived from prehistoric times.

Ancient Sa Huỳnh Salt Field – Quang Ngai – Vietnam    By: Mr Đoan Ngoc Khoi

3. Important Evidence of Sa Huỳnh Salt-Making Techniques

In previous studies of Sa Huỳnh culture, archaeologists primarily focused on pottery-making techniques and jar burial sites, with little evidence related to salt-making. However, this discovery opens a new door for research, providing evidence of three salt-making methods used by the Sa Huỳnh people: evaporating seawater on rocks to crystallize salt, boiling seawater in ceramic pots, and producing salt in salt fields.

The discovery of salt crystals on the rocks at Gò Cỏ village is significant evidence of the long-standing existence of salt production in this area. Researchers are currently collecting samples for laboratory analysis to determine the exact date and method of salt production. The shell samples collected from the salt field and chemical analysis of the salt on the rocks will help further clarify the techniques and geological structure of this area.

4. Comparison with Global Salt-Making Techniques

The discovery of the ancient salt field in Quảng Ngãi also provides intriguing connections between Sa Huỳnh salt-making techniques and those of other civilizations around the world. According to Dr. Khôi, the method of evaporating seawater on rocks by the Sa Huỳnh people is similar to the salt-making technique used in the ancient salt fields of Dương Phố (Hainan, China), dating back to around the year 800 AD. This indicates the early development of salt-making techniques in Vietnam and suggests possible cultural exchanges between coastal regions in Southeast Asia and ancient China.

5. Significance of the Discovery for World Heritage Documentation

The discovery of the ancient salt field not only holds scientific value but also adds important information to the application for World Heritage recognition of the Sa Huỳnh Cultural Archaeological Site. Researchers are continuing to excavate the area, aiming to find more artifacts and evidence related to the lifestyle, ancient pathways, and resting places of the Sa Huỳnh people. These contributions are vital for preserving and promoting the heritage value of Vietnam on the world map.

Conclusion

The discovery of the ancient salt field in Quảng Ngãi not only proves the sophisticated salt-making techniques of the Sa Huỳnh people from 2,000 years ago but also opens new prospects for the research and preservation of Vietnamese cultural heritage. The mysteries of the Sa Huỳnh civilization are still waiting to be unraveled, and each new discovery helps shed more light on the life and technology of the ancient inhabitants in this region.