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[Chocolatemilkgod]

Still some of the ideas here are worth looking into. More industries, even if they are small industries that you don't have to have, are always interesting and fun to have in a fortress.

[Dame de la Licorne]

Chalk wasn't and isn't used as a writing tool. Gypsum is.

^I think he meant the wikipedia page wasn't accurate about chalk. It doesn't provide a source for that particular claim, and the "blackboard chalk" article doesn't mention any materials being used for it before calcium sulfate.

Ah, I hadn't noticed the lack of a source.  I'll see what I can find out about that.  For now I've added an extra note to chalk, indicating the need for verification.

Toady said he didn't want anything more recent than the 14th century, while 1500 is the beginning of the 16th century.

I stand corrected.

[ungulateman]

I'm using the QI Book of General Ignorance as a source. I don't have it in front of me, but is states blackboard chalk is made out of gypsum. It might have been actual chalk in ancient times, but I think it would crumble too easily.

Wikipedia might be right for all I know.

[Wyrm]

Chalk (calcium carbonate) has been used as a writing material since Roman times.

http://books.google.com/books?id=KzYTrpiRVNgC&pg=PA203&lpg=PA203&dq=roman+writing+chalk&source=bl&ots=GdSFRlupfv&sig=xRIuDAIOYbVYGquDGjKjdYOMESk&hl=en&ei=qw29TNrYJ4T78AbUvsmqDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=roman%20writing%20chalk&f=false

(Learned this in Latin class.)

[Akjosch]

Which is roughly the cut-off point Toady has stated that he would prefer to maintain (though things like casts, etc. are clearly much more modern).

The modern forms of (gypsum) plaster casts date back to 18th century, but stiffened bandages (with starch, for example) were used in the Roman times already. And of course the ancient Egyptians used all kinds of casts, though only for their mummies.

[Lord Shonus]

The use of salt as a flavouring is irrelevant. The real value of salt (which made it so valuable historically that it was used at times as currency) is as a preservative, to delay the rotting of meats or fish.

[Dame de la Licorne]

@ungulateman:  Natural chalk, while it powders fairly easily when pressed to a harder surface, doesn't crumble that easily, you have to apply a noticeable amount of force to it for it to actually break into pieces.

@Wyrm:  Thanks for the info.

@Lord Shonus: I've updated the rock salt section.

[Mel_Vixen]

On the other hand salt was important for your physiological health.

Quote from Wikipedia - healthsection of the "Salt" article

Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes   in the body. All four cationic electrolytes (sodium, potassium,   magnesium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other   vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too   little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or electrolyte disturbance, which can cause neurological problems, or death. Drinking too much water, with insufficient salt intake, puts a person at risk of water intoxication (hyponatremia).