Salt of the Alps: White Gold of Hallstatt

All mines need regular reinforcement against collapse, and Hallstatt, the world's oldest salt mine perched in the Austrian Alps is no exception. But Hallstatt isn't like other mines. Exploited for some 7,000 years, the mine has yielded not only a steady supply of salt but also archaeological discoveries. So far only a fraction of the prehistoric tunnel network is thought to have been explored. Hallstatt was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

Among the most striking discoveries was a wooden staircase dating back to 1100 BC, the oldest such staircase found. Other items date back much further. An axe made from staghorn dating from 5,000 BC showed that as early as then, miners were at work. Salt, known as "white gold"—was priceless at the time as a food preservative.

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