Saltpeter mines found in China

Chinese archeologists have found a large ancient saltpeter manufacturing base which they believe was used to manufacture gunpowder over 1,000 years ago.

A team of archaeologists discovered last month a network of caves at the Laojun Mountain in southwestern China's Sichuan Province. . .

In two caves, the remains of workshops and storage pits were discovered, while in another cave the team found four work spaces,each covering hundreds of square meters, along with several saltpeter pits, and scattered fragments of chinaware. Based on the finds, scientists estimated the ancient miners could have extracted one kg of saltpeter from 100 kg of earth and the kitchens could have fed 100 workers. . .

Experts agreed that the large number of halls in towns and cities around the area were used to trade saltpeter in ancient times. . .

However, even today, the history of gunpowder manufacturing still rests on fragments in the historic record.

Posted by David on December 11, 2003 8:17 PM