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Prof. Vasil Nikolov and his team of archaeologists at the Provadia-Saltworks found the ceramic artifact, believed to be a salt god, while excavating the bottom of a salt evaporation pool. Source: Provadia-Solnitsata

Unidentified Salt God Emerges from Ancient Bulgarian Cult Site

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In the ancient world salt was so valuable that Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. A monthly salt allowance was a salarium, and this Latin word seeds both the French word  salaire, and the English language word salary. When salt first appeared on the market it circulated in its economic capacity for a long time before it was consumed, and this is why the ancient salt mines at Provadia-Solnitsata are regarded as the first mint in ancient Europe, and the home of long-distance trade. Thanks to a new discovery, it is also the site of a salt god artifact.

The Provadia-Saltworks tell during excavations in 2008. A new discovery has uncovered what appears to be a representation of some kind of salt god. (Nikolov / OpenEdition Journals)

The Provadia-Saltworks tell during excavations in 2008. A new discovery has uncovered what appears to be a representation of some kind of salt god. (Nikolov / OpenEdition Journals)

Salt Cults of the Ancient World

Located near the modern town of Provadia, in northeastern Bulgaria, specialized salt production and long-distance trade was vital for both people and animals at the prehistoric urban Chalcolithic complex of Provadia-Solnitsata during the middle and second half of the 5th millennium BC. This fortified stonewall settlement (citadel) includes a ritualistic sacrificial pit and an extensive burial necropolis, representing the oldest salt production center in Europe, dating back to between 5500 and 4200 BC.

According to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology, over the last 30 years the early Neolithic and late Neolithic history of the Balkans and Anatolia has been championed by the intrepid Prof. Vasil Nikolov. This summer, along with a team of researchers, Nikolov explored the bottom of a salt evaporation pool as well as two houses, one of which was a 400 square meter (4305 ft2), two-storey building. While at it, he unearthed six human skulls, including children.

Prof. Vasil Nikolov and his team working at the Provadia-Saltworks where the salt god artifact was discovered. (Provadia-Solnitsata)

Prof. Vasil Nikolov and his team working at the Provadia-Saltworks where the salt god artifact was discovered. (Provadia-Solnitsata)

Because Aliens Don’t Have Mouths

The finds at the Provadia-Saltworks included a unique late Chalcolithic triangular-shaped ceramic artifact depicting an anthropomorphic human face. Believed to be a salt god, the artifact has two stylized ears and eyes, but no mouth. Its eyes are elliptical while its eyebrows were painted on. The Bulgarian artifact has two holes which most likely served for hanging. Researchers at the site think this object was a symbol of high status within the social hierarchy.

You will have noticed that whenever any kind of triangular human face is recovered from an ancient site there’s always someone who can’t resist using the old school bait and switch “alien reference.” In this case it’s ArchaeologyNewsNetwork who headlined this story with “Mouthless 'Alien Mask' Found.” But, just so you know, not a single archaeologist concerned with this discovery has mentioned that the ancient ritualistic object looks like an “alien,” and this remains the play of a handful of sensationalist journalists trying to grab a few ancient alienists as they pass by looking for the smoking guns they so much love to find.

At the Provadia-Solnitsata site archaeologists have discovered several human remains, including a mass grave was found holding the smashed remains of victims that had suffered violent deaths. (Nikolov / OpenEdition Journals)

At the Provadia-Solnitsata site archaeologists have discovered several human remains, including a mass grave was found holding the smashed remains of victims that had suffered violent deaths. (Nikolov / OpenEdition Journals)

A Salt Cone at the Center of Long-distance Trade

Provadia-Solnitsata is the most ancient salt production center of the Old World and it occupies an area of approximately 13 hectares (32 acres) of the famous Mirovsko salt deposit. According to a 2016 paper published in Open Journals, this site is one of “the most significant prehistoric sites in Southeastern Europe.” At a depth of 4,000 meters (13,123 ft.), with a 15 kilometer (9.3 mile) diameter, this giant salt cone occurred when huge amounts of salt were pushed upwards to the surface under extreme pressure, and its marl, or mantle, protected it from dissolution.

It was at this site ancient that people first “brine boiled” pottery in dome ovens between 5500and 5200 BC. During the Middle and Late Chalcolithic (4700‑4200 BC) salt production at this site reached almost industrial levels, and it was traded with cultures as far away as the southern Balkan Mountains.

Could the salt god artifact discovered be a depiction of Salacia, identified with the Greek goddess Amphitrite, seen here in an ancient Roman fresco. (Stefano Bolognini)

Could the salt god artifact discovered be a depiction of Salacia, identified with the Greek goddess Amphitrite, seen here in an ancient Roman fresco. (Stefano Bolognini)

Salt Gods or Aliens Visitors. You Decide

Although this was an industrial complex, it was also a ritual center, a fact that became clear after the discovery of thirty pits about 60 meters (196 ft) west of the main mound (tell). Covering an area of around 0.2 hectares (0.49 acres) researchers have found evidence that these pits were associated with a fertility cult dedicating their worship to a salt god or an agri-mother goddess. A second ritual pit complex was found in a vast prehistoric necropolis containing graves and stone structures about 250 meters (820 ft.) southwest of the main settlement, closer to the salt production center, and this further confirmed the deeply-sacred nature of the ancient complex.

Along with 38 single person graves, a mass grave was found holding the smashed remains of victims that had suffered violent deaths at the Bulgarian site. It is thought that a drought had caused the disappearance of the salt springs at the end of the 5th millennium BC, sparking inter-community conflict at the ancient salt production center of Provadia-Solnitsat.

So I leave it to you to decide if the triangular head represents an alien, or an early prehistoric conception of the Roman goddess Salacia, the female divinity of the sea, worshipped as the goddess of salt water. I’ll be going with the latter. Just sayin’.

Top image: Prof. Vasil Nikolov and his team of archaeologists at the Provadia-Saltworks found the ceramic artifact, believed to be a salt god, while excavating the bottom of a salt evaporation pool. Source: Provadia-Solnitsata

By Ashley Cowie

 

Comments

 I think that mask represents mantis head with human eys. It is a kind of a pendant. Learn more about Varna necropolis, which is not far from there and the oldest gold, about the transition of a society dominated by women to one dominated by men. For me it is a sign of a strange women sect worshiping mantis

So appreciate the artical but is there an age assigned to the object or description of the depth that it was found?  Is it concurrent with any known occupation of the site?  Has any dating of the ceramics been made or planned?

With the two holes it was most likely worn on a string around the neck which would make the person wearing it easily identifiable similar to a military insignia which instantly identifies rank and station.  Has this been considered?  It was a salt mine.  Perhaps this was organizational overseerer’s badge and not anything to do with religion. 

Need2Knw

Warwick Lewis's picture

It wouldn't be some kind of tool ??
It appears to be shaped like a tool used today called a "pelican pick".
A kind of pick cross shovel used to break up and scrape out salt ??

WarwickLewis

Warwick Lewis's picture

Not a very good image of the face.
It is only partially visible.
I will have to track down a full image somewhere else.

In regard to being birdlike.
I would just like to note the eyes are not round they are more elliptical like human eyes.

WarwickLewis

Hello Everyone,

That was certainly an interesting find of course with me, I would of said the Salt figure might have been an depiction of Lots wife accept the figures face resembles that of an Hawk or Falcon bird which quite possibly maybe the Salt mask was sent to Bulgaria as a Trading Gift for the Salt but that doesn't fit either so my conclusion is that in my case I really don't know about this odd figure.

I do have one question regarding the Salt goddess Salacia, or Amphitrite the wife of Neptune/Poseidon how would her name be spelled in Hebrew and or Aramaic? Just wondering about that please share if someone knows the answer to my question.

Well time for me to go so until next time Everybody, Goodbye!

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ashley cowie's picture

Ashley

Ashley is a Scottish historian, author, and documentary filmmaker presenting original perspectives on historical problems in accessible and exciting ways.

He was raised in Wick, a small fishing village in the county of Caithness on the north east coast of... Read More

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