Inland saltmines in the Region of Murcia territory
Abstract
Salt is an essential element in the everyday activities of all human groups. In order to capture and collect salt, territories have been shaped into purpose-specific landscapes. There are two main types, namely saltworks and saltmines. The placement and exploitation of saltmines is linked to the presence of some salty element that mixes with the water. Three main parts may be distinguished. Firstly, water collection, which is generally done with horizontal wells of the mine/gallery type); secondly, storage, involving pools and boiling facilities to keep and heat the water; finally, crystallization, which usually takes place in terraced plots of land known as ‘eras’. We have been able to find nearly twenty of these saltmines in the interior of the Region of Murcia, combining fieldwork and research in archives. These are a trace of the economic activity and the water culture which characterises the south-east of Spain.Downloads
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