Caddo Salt Production in Northwestern Louisiana

Summary

During the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, northwestern Louisiana was known as a major hub of the salt trade. However, recent excavations at the Drake's Salt Works Site Complex suggest that this reputation may have been earned relatively late. These excavations have also raised the possibility that many of the salt producers at this saline were non-locals who visited northwestern Louisiana primarily for its salt resources. While the salt makers at Drake's Salt Works would have been able to exploit the European demand for salt and salt-treated commodities, there is little evidence that making salt was more than a seasonal or short-term activity. Thus, it would appear that these salt producers were able to meet and profit from the local demand for salt without the need for full-time economic specialization.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage