From physorg.com: Salt production started in ancient China.
Posted on August 23, 2005 04:14 PM. Filed under: history & archaeology.Harvard researcher Rowan Flad and colleagues said they found multiple lines of evidence of large-scale salt production at an archeological site near Zhongba, along the Yangzi River in central China.
The chemical compositions of the soil and nearby brine were found to be similar to other salt-production facilities. Likewise, the researchers said the form and composition of various ceramics found at the site are similar to salt production pottery discovered in other regions of the world.
The scientists say their study indicates salt production was a significant activity at the site during the first millennium B.C., and possibly earlier. [continue]