Artifact: Salt
Materials: Salt
Dimensions:
Date:
Origin:
Collection: Pinpin via WikiMedia Commons
License: CC BY-SA 2.5
Ledger Entry: Salt
Department: Grocery
Customer: Elias Cockeril
Ledger Page: 203
Imported From:
Product Description
Along with pepper, salt was the most common colonial American condiment. It was frequently used for seasoning meat dishes and pickling. Salt was also the key ingredient for preserving meat.
Citation: Mark Kurlansky, Salt: A World History (New York: Penguin, 2003); Katharine E. Harbury, Colonial Virginia's Cooking Dynasty (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2004)
Historical Price: 1 shilling, 4 pence per bushel; Modern USD: $15
Product Variations
The databases record thirty-four purchases of salt. These ranged from half a bushel to six bushels. Most purchases were for one bushel of salt. These purchases ranged from twelve pence for half a bushel to one pound eight shillings for two bushels.
