
Hallstatt, Austria has been occupied since the iron age; 7000 years ago people found the salt mines, which gave them an opportunity to settle an area which they would make into a trade center soon after. This rich cultural history is the basis for Hallstatt's inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travelers interested in lakeside archaeology will have a lot to discover. Hallstatt has several museums, the main archaeological museum in Hallstatt center--and you can take archaeological tours of the salt mine.