17/08/2026
Finally finished making something for myself - a Hallstatt salt-pack from the Bronze Age, absolutely perfect for naff all except carrying rock salt out of a mine some 3200 years ago.
There are a few of these remaining, all very similar but subtly different construction: a pack made from layered cowhide with two poles either side (I've used Hazel in the round), a carry strap which goes over your right shoulder and can be adjusted, and a stick attached to the upper part of the pack which goes over your left shoulder and is held in the hand - this way you can to the salt out once you've carried it from the mine.
I've stuck to as much accuracy as I can with the way it's been stitched and the tying of the thong and feel fairly sure that whoever made the one I've copied was also right handed. I have to admire the way that all the thong stitching has been kept flat, no twists at all even where it wraps around the frame, lovely detail and care must have been taken on these. On the original the upper panels don't have hair on them but I've chosen to keep it.
Things that haven't quite made sense yet: putting it all together was a faff for sure so there must be a more efficient method, lacing that thing through up to 4 layers of hide must have required some kind of tool or hardening of the tips, and the nice dangy thing on the pole which goes over the shoulder makes no sense to me - it doesn't seem to help with holding or retrieving the pole, so maybe some kind of adjustment.maybe someone out there knows and can enlighten me!
Things I'd change? Next time I'd go for a breed of cow which is slightly less modern 😂 that'll teach me to buy cowhide after a beer or two as I went for the pretty one. Live and learn!
