The hypothesis according to which the troughs were used as part of a system meant to direct streams of water to aid in the piercing of salt rocks, belongs to E. Preissig, who developed it in 1877. Although partly agreed by researchers up until 2010. It was our experiment in 2010 that clearly proved the efficiency of the troughs system in perforating salt rocks by fresh water. Between 2017–2018, more archaeological experiments were completed within the project EthnosalRo3 in the site of Beclean - Băile Figa. They have proven that the wooded troughs and structures, utensils and tools associated to them, are effective for: rock salt extraction, brine evaporation (brine evaporation in troughs is possible using hot stones), salt mud filtering. During the experiments we used three precise replicas of the wooden troughs found in Băile Figa (one small and two large), worked by specialized craftsmen from the exact tree species as the originals. Several positions and heights were tested, as well as the application of throughs in individual or group arrangements. Chemical analyses of the brine obtained in different times and ways are provided.
Raport preliminar asupra experimentelor arheologice desfășurate la Beclean – Băile Figa jud. Bistrița-Năsăud, 2017 – 2018. Utilizarea ”troacelor” și instalațiilor din lemn în procesul de extragere și exploatare a surselor de sare, slatină și nămol sărat (I)/Preliminary report on the archaeological experiments in Beclean – Băile Figa, Bistrița Năsăud county, 2017-2018. The use of troughs and wooden installations for the saline resources, brine and salty mud extraction and exploitation (I)