More than worth its salt

Today, salt is little more than an inexpensive kitchen staple, but in ancient China, it was a strategic resource for a dynasty's fortune. Along with iron, it was essential not only to daily life but also to imperial power.

This is why salt-related sites have long been a focus of archaeological explorations, and recent discoveries are offering fresh insights into this remarkable history.

The latest findings were unveiled during a Beijing news conference hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. Among them, the Zhongbao site in Chongqing stands out.

Discovered during the ongoing fourth national census of cultural relics, the site lies in the Wujiang River Basin, within Yushan town of the Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county, Chongqing. Excavations last year uncovered 26 layers, revealing uninterrupted salt production over more than 2,000 years, from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

"The town is rich in brine resources," says Niu Yingbin, who leads the excavations. "Saline-bearing strata often reach the surface or lie just below it, making excavation relatively easy. At the nearby Feishui Well, brine still bubbles from the cliff face throughout the year."

Local folklore says ancient people discovered salt sources by observing animals, a belief that excavations have unexpectedly proven.

"We often saw sheep wandering over to drink the brine," Niu adds. "It offered a vivid glimpse of how early people may have first identified these salt sources."