A famous work of ancient art, drawn deep on caves in the heart of Paldea, depicts a group of human hunters, armed with spears, menacing a Naclstack. Intriguingly, prehistoric spears of the era were not actually capable of damaging a Naclstack, nor does any cave art depict one being felled. As best we can determine, the hunters were engaging in an intentional provocation, at great personal risk – for a Naclstack's attacks, once used and gathered, also represent a substantial supply of salt.
When humans began to train Nacli, not only did the medium of art change, but so did the depictions; Naclstack now came with human allies, often defending cities as part of their walls, and barbarians became the attackers. Curiously, said barbarians were never depicted with water pokemon, nor did they ever actually topple a Naclstack. Although one can not rule out the impact of triumphalism in official propaganda, it does appear that they, too, sought to obtain from battle what was not made available by trade.
It is curious how many archaeological sites in Paldea seem to have collapsed when a load-bearing Naclstack walked away. We need not assume, however, that these sites were still inhabited until doomed by their pokemon wandering off; a group of people moving away would naturally take their pokemon with them, but the rest of their walls and buildings would remain behind. Their sheer number suggests that it is salt – and Naclstack – at the heart of Paldean civilization, and obtaining it from domestic pokemon was surely far easier than trying to dodge and pick up a Salt Cure!