Underwater Archaeology, Salt Production, and Coastal Maya Trade at Stingray Lagoon, Belize

TLDR

Sea‑level rise of ~1 m at the end of the Classic period submerged Maya settlements, reshaping the landscape, while evidence shows salt was sourced locally along the Belizean coast rather than from the northern Yucatán, reflecting a subsistence‑focused economy. The study describes salt‑making artifacts and the production of salt at Stingray Lagoon. The authors document submerged sites and date them with ceramics and radiocarbon analysis to establish sea‑level rise. Underwater archaeology uncovered ancient salt sources, and sal‑cocida boiling at Stingray Lagoon supplied coastal and inland salt, reducing long‑distance imports, with no evidence of fish‑drying salt production. Other details: A.

Abstract

Ancient sources of salt have been revealed by underwater archaeology along the south coast of Belize. A relative rise in sea level of about 1 m at the end of the Classic period (ca. A. D. 900) submerged ancient Maya settlements and transformed the modern landscape by reducing the amount of available land and by changing the vegetation. The discovery of submerged archaeological sites and their dating by associated ceramics and radiocarbon date determination documents the sea level rise. Salt production by the sal cocida or boiling method at the underwater site of Stingray Lagoon and at other specialized salt production sites provided salt for coastal use and inland transport and diminished the need for long-distance import of this basic human requirement. This paper describes salt-making artifacts as well as salt production. The lack of animal bones at the Stingray Lagoon site where other organic material was preserved indicates that salt was not produced for salt-drying fish. Evidence that salt was obtained from the Belizean coast instead of from the northern Yucatán coast is in line with the view of ancient Maya economy in which basic subsistence resources were produced locally whereas long-distance trade was concentrated on elite or ceremonial resources and goods.