Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna today will host another of its popular monthly lectures. Joseph Magro Conti will deliver an illustrated presentation on the history and use of salt pans from antiquity to today with emphasis on the local scenario. Mr Magro Conti is a qualified archaeologist and a senior planning officer at Mepa apart from being a founder member of FWA.

Since antiquity, salt has been an important ingredient in people’s life, in the past much more then today. It was used not only to garnish food but perhaps more importantly, to preserve it. It was such an important mineral that it played an essential part of the Roman economy. Wages were paid in equivalent of salts’ worth hence the word salarium (sale meaning salt) and therefore salary.

To this end, people have devised all sorts of mechanisms to harvest such a mineral. In areas cut of from the sea such as in central Europe, mines were hewn to extract this mineral from the rock. Other regions blessed with the sea, such as the Maltese islands had their coasts extensively shaped by men to facilitate the gathering of salt.

Basins were hewn in the rock next to sea to be filled by seawater during storms. During the hot summer season the water is left to evaporate leaving the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. The salt gatherers will then scoop this salt and pack it in sacks. Until a few years ago, it was typical to see numerous sacks of salt packed in rows at the back of these salt pans in areas such as is-Salini, Marsascala and Gozo. Sadly it is a trade that is dying out due to modern mechanisms of producing this important daily consumable.

The lecture is to take place at Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna’s new headquarters housed in Notre Dame Gate (Bieb is-Sultan) at Vittoriosa next to the Cottonera Sports Complex at 6.15pm. Time will be allotted at the end for questions and queries. The lecture is open to all members of the public free of charge. Donations are welcomed.