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| Object |
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| Bar of salt packed in natural fibres (Amoli) |
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| Ethnic group |
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| Unknown |
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| Origin |
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| Ethiopia/Eritrea |
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| Material |
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| Salt and raffia |
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| Size |
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| 26 x 7 x 5 cm |
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| Weight |
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| 1.3 kg |
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| Description |
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| Greyish white block of unclean salt that was traditionally used in Ethiopia and Eritrea as a form of exchange before the advent of modern currency. Such bars were in circulation for hundreds of years before the advent of modern currency; they were eventually replaced by the Maria Theresa Thaler. The bricks of salt had a fairly standard shape and size to enable them to be transported without too much difficulty. The Amolis were characteristically wrapped in strips of natural fibres to prevent them from breaking or crumbling. The salt blocks came from the Danakil depression in eastern Ethiopia and were only transported during the dry season to prevent them being damaged by water. Trading with such blocks was time consuming as each block had to be weighed and checked for damage or cavities. |
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