Persistence and risk

Salt production in post-medieval Ireland

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3919947
AutoresWes Forsythe (0000-0002-3322-4196, Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, autor correspondente), Rosemary Mcconkey (Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland), C Breen (0000-0001-5379-982X, Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland)
Ano2018
Volume50
Fascículo4
Páginas603-619
Data de publicação2018-08-08
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.2018.1487878
OpenAlexW2811164076
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas19

Salt was a common trading commodity in a post-medieval Europe of expanding horizons and populations. It was, however, expensive and laborious to produce in northern Europe and foreign supplies were vulnerable to disruption. Its importance was especially pronounced in countries such as Ireland, which failed to industrialize on the scale of Britain, and relied on its agricultural produce and exports. This paper explores the changing fortunes of salt in Ireland by examining a complex of sites at Ballycastle. In operation for three centuries, it was one of the more enduring and resilient sites of manufacture. The authors identify individual agency, innovation and legislation as key factors for its relative success. Conversely, the business was periodically jeopardized by social and political unrest, factionalism and incompetence. As part of the wider Atlantic world, Irish salt and salted provisions exploited emerging colonial networks of trade; however, these market forces perpetuated social inequalities with attendant risks to food security

Agency (philosophy · Commodity · Development economics · Economics · Economy · Irish · Legislation · Market economy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social unrest · Sociology · Unrest · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies · Historical Economic and Social Studies · Law