Salt is a biological necessity, but for ancient civilizations, it was also a cornerstone of trade and survival. In Sri Lanka, the history of salt transport reveals a surprisingly advanced network of resource management that dates back to the Stone Age.
White Gold of the Ancients
Known as “white gold,” salt was essential not just for flavoring food but for preserving meat and fish in a tropical climate. It was also a critical component in Ayurvedic medicine. The island’s dry coastal zones, particularly in Hambantota and Puttalam, provided natural salt pans (lewayas) where seawater evaporated under the sun to leave behind pure crystal salt.
The Balangoda Connection
Remarkably, archaeological evidence from the Belilena cave suggests that the Balangoda Man (prehistoric humans) was transporting salt from the coast to the central highlands as early as 27,000 years ago. This implies a level of organized mobility and planning that challenges our understanding of hunter-gatherer societies. They likely carried salt in skin bags or woven baskets, navigating dense rainforests to bring this vital mineral to their inland caves.
Trade and Taxation
By the time of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, salt had become a state-controlled commodity. Kings recognized its value and imposed taxes on its production and transport. The salt trade connected the remote coastal villages with the bustling capital, creating a web of economic interaction that spanned the entire island.