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Sälzer quarter
Various sights
As the basis of human life, salt has been an expensive foodstuff for thousands of years. The presence of salt springs was of great importance for the development of the town of Soest. An Arab traveler reported on salt production in Soest as early as 973
Properties:
Street names such as Salzbrink, Solgasse or Salzgasse still refer to this today. In 1981/82, an archaeological excavation was carried out in parts of Soest's salt district on Kohlbrink. Over 100 salt kilns were uncovered in the 230 m2 excavation area.
The kilns, which were found to be up to 3.5 m deep, were made of unfired pieces of clay. In front of them were 2 to 3 m large, shallow working pits, from which the 2 to 2.5 m long kiln channels were fired. The leaden boiling pans originally stood on these. Wattle-and-daub constructions for wind catchers were found, as were wooden posts from the roofs of the kilns. The examination of wood samples using dendrochronology (annual ring measurement of wood) finally provided a reliable date for the existence of the Soest salt works as early as 600.
It was not possible to determine archaeologically when salt production in Soest ceased. From the 13th century onwards, there is no longer any documentary evidence of a salt works in Soest. In contrast, the Sassendorf salt works is mentioned for the first time in the 12th century and continued to produce salt until the beginning of the 19th century. It should be noted that Soest citizens also owned brine and salt house property and later also had boiling rights in Sassendorf and traded extensively in salt.
The kilns, which were found to be up to 3.5 m deep, were made of unfired pieces of clay. In front of them were 2 to 3 m large, shallow working pits, from which the 2 to 2.5 m long kiln channels were fired. The leaden boiling pans originally stood on these. Wattle-and-daub constructions for wind catchers were found, as were wooden posts from the roofs of the kilns. The examination of wood samples using dendrochronology (annual ring measurement of wood) finally provided a reliable date for the existence of the Soest salt works as early as 600.
It was not possible to determine archaeologically when salt production in Soest ceased. From the 13th century onwards, there is no longer any documentary evidence of a salt works in Soest. In contrast, the Sassendorf salt works is mentioned for the first time in the 12th century and continued to produce salt until the beginning of the 19th century. It should be noted that Soest citizens also owned brine and salt house property and later also had boiling rights in Sassendorf and traded extensively in salt.
