Hallstatt Salt Mine History

Hallstatt is famous for its beautiful scenery, mountains, and lake and is a UNESCO Heritage Site. It is even more special that people have lived there for 7,000 years because of its salt deposits. Salt, often called “white gold,” attracted people to settle in Hallstatt around 5,000 BCE. This valuable resource led to an entire age being named after the town. Today, visitors worldwide come to Hallstatt to explore its deep history and ancient salt mines. This article will explore the Hallstatt Salt Mine history in detail.

History of the Saltmine Hallstatt

Prehistoric Times

The history of salt mining in Hallstatt, Austria, is a story of Imagination, creativity, and hard work. For around 7,000 years, this small town has been famous for its valuable salt. Salt mining in Hallstatt dates back to prehistoric times, which makes it one of the oldest known salt mines in the world. It has been in operation since the Neolithic era, at least since 5000 BC, making Hallstatt the oldest salt mine in the world!

Between 400 and 350 BC, a landslide caused mining in Hallstatt to stop. The entire high valley was buried under debris and mud, except for the burial grounds, which were left. As a result, salt mining had to be moved to another location.

Middle Age

In 1284, Rudolf’s Tower was built to protect the salt mines. In the 14th century, the Celts and Romans mined salt in this area. They used the salty liquid to preserve food and for certain rituals. During this time, Hallstatt’s salt was the first exporter in Europe. In the Middle Ages, Hallstatt became a center for salt production and trade. This is when the famous “Hallstatt Salz” was first made and sold to people. The salt was so popular that it was offered as a royal gift to important visitors to the region.

Early Modern Era

In the 16th century, Hallstatt was a crucial part of the Habsburg Empire, and its salt industry boomed during this era. Salt was used as a preservative to preserve meat, meat products, and other foods. It was also used to produce soaps and medicines. Hallstatt also became an important trading center, attracting merchants throughout Europe and beyond who wanted to buy Hallstatt salt.

19th Century

In the 19th century, Hallstatt’s salt industry became prominent and successful for the entire region. It is one of the region’s most important economic activities. During this time, salt mining expanded well. The town soon had a complex network of underground salt mines connected to the surface by many tunnels and shafts.

20th -21st Century

At the beginning of the 20th century, around 300 people worked at the Hallstatt salt mine. Today, Hallstatt salt is famous all over the world for its quality and taste. It is exported to more than 20 countries and is utilized in food, medicine, cosmetics, and industrial uses. 40 workers produce 605,000 cubic meters of brine each year, which contains 180,000 tons of salt.

Interesting Finds in Hallstatt Salt Mine

Pickax Made From Deer Antler

Hallstatt’s name itself shows its historical importance. The word “hal” comes from the Celts, who used it to mean places where salt was found. Evidence of Archeology shows that people started mining salt in the high valley above Hallstatt as early as 5,000 BCE. In 1838, a deer antler tool used for digging salt was found in the Kaiser Josef Tunnel. Radiocarbon dating done by the Natural History Museum of Vienna proves this tool is from the Neolithic Age, about 7,000 years ago. Extensive salt mining began several millennia later.

Oldest Staircase in Europe

Salt mining began in Hallstatt between 2100 and 800 BCE in the Salzkammergut region during the Bronze Age. In 2002, there was a notable archaeological find inside the Salzberg, a simple wooden staircase dating back to around 1344 BCE. This staircase is now recognized as the oldest staircase in Europe. After extensive scientific research, it was carefully preserved and placed back inside the mountain.

Natural History Museum Vienna and Salinen Austria AG created a “Bronze Age Cinema” in Salzwelten Hallstatt, which shows the staircase. An animated display showcases the challenging lives of Bronze Age salt miners. Due to the preservative conditions inside the mine, this staircase will be preserved for the future.

Man in Salt 1734

In 1734, three miners found a well-preserved body in a Hallstatt salt mine. It is the corpse of a prehistoric miner, and it was well intact due to its being preserved in salt. Even the clothing, skin, and hair were still visible. Initially, it appeared like the body had been buried under a salt avalanche deep within the mountain, where the temperature remained around 8 degrees Celsius consistently for many centuries. This find was a major archaeological sensation at the time. The local priest decided to bury the corpse of the man in the consecrated cemetery.

Further research indicates that the man probably lived in the first millennium B.C. and had died in a mining accident. He remained buried under debris for centuries until his discovery in the 18th century.

Hallstatt – A Village with Great History

The village of Hallstatt, located by a lake with the same name, exists because of the rich salt deposits in its mountains. 7000 years ago, people started salt mining in this place. The name Hallstatt period (800-400 BC) in history is derived from this small village. Many important discoveries have been made in Hallstatt and its surrounding valley area, which is famous worldwide. Even today, new finds are made in Hallstatt’s Salt Mountain.

Hallstatt’s top attractions include the world’s oldest salt mine and the ossuary. Visitors can enjoy a romantic boat ride on Lake Hallstatt, explore the stunning caves in Obertraun, or visit Lake Gosau with the Dachstein glacier. In summer, Bad Goisern is popular for hiking and biking. In the winter, visitors are attracted to the ski areas of Dachstein West in Gosau and the Ski and Freeride Arena near Obertraun.