This short film clip needs almost ‘no comment’. Suffice to say that salt gathering is a time-honoured labour. For centuries, farming folk have turned to the sea to make a bit of a living when the heat of summer leaves fields parched. There are still pockets of salt pans in action and a few people who keep this traditional work alive like these salt gatherers at Xwejni Gozo. A time capsule shared with us by Mario George Vella.
“This was truly an amazing experience and came purely by chance as I couldn’t sleep. The sunrise and most especially conversing with the salt gatherers was just great.” (Mario George Vella)
Patricia, totally my sentiment too on this scene. Very humbling. Some pans date back around 400 years (Salina, Malta). Most are ancient. A reminder that in days before fridges and in days when sailing ships plied the Maltese waters, salt was a very, very precious commodity indeed.
Beautiful pictures and somewhat humbling – reminds one that salt doesn’t just ‘happen’ in little containers on supermarket shelves.
For more on the long history of salt pans and production in Malta, which dates back at least to the time of the Knights of St John, see here: http://www.allmalta.com/folklore/past21.html