Giorgio Cella - Charcoal burning in Barga, Italy

http://www.barganews.com/2013/11/23/the-charcoal-burners-of-barga/

This week back in 2001 we published an article which gradually over the years has aquired much more significance as time has move on and memory of certain events and habits fade.

Twelve years ago not many people would have noticed an old plastic fertiliser bag lying on the bench outside Aristodemo’s bar.

It was actually a testament to one of the oldest forms of industry in this area and an interesting insight into the way that modern objects can be incorporated and mutatated by traditional methods.

The sack contained charcoal brought down from the mountain from one of the last families still making charcoal in this area. A centuries old practice once the mainstay of many families but now only kept alive by a few “old hands”

This sack of charcoal did not change hands for money but was bartered for some of Aristodemo’s famous sheep’s cheese.

Have a close look at the way the sack had been closed