Salt Making and Pottery Production: Community Craft Specialization in Alburquerque, Bohol, Philippines

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis ethnoarchaeological study examines contemporary salt and earthenware pottery production in Alburquerque, Bohol, Central Philippines. It highlights the intersection of these two craft industries through the use of locally made earthenware pots for salt making, serving both as brine boiling containers, as well as standard units of measurement for trade. It examines the spatial distribution of production activities and related material culture, from the procurement of resources through the stages of production, to distribution, and the resulting archaeological correlates to serve as a framework for interpreting prehistoric salt sites with pottery remains. Moreover, this research contributes to research on household-based production activities, demonstrating that households can be active and integral participants in inter-community and regional markets and long-distance exchange.