Salt as the basis of human life was expensively traded food for thousands of years. The occurrence of salt springs in Soest was of utmost importance for the town's development. An Arab traveler reported on salt production in Soest as early as 973, and street names such as Salzbrink, Solgasse or Salzgasse still refer to this today. In 1981/82, parts of the Soest Sälzer quarter at the "Kohlbrink" were explored by an archaeological excavation. More than 100 salt boiling furnaces were uncovered in the 230 square meter excavation area. The furnaces, which could be traced down to a depth of 3.5 m, were made of unfired pieces of clay. In front of them were shallow working pits 2 to 3 m in size, from which the 2 to 2.5 m long furnace channels were fired. The lead boiling pans originally stood on these. Wattle and daub constructions for windbreaks were found, as well as wooden posts for the roofs of the kilns. The examination of wood samples with the help of dendrochronology (annual ring measurement of wood) finally also yielded a reliable dating for the existence of the Soest salt works as early as around 600 AD.
When the Soest salt production was abandoned could not be determined by archaeological means. From the 13th century onwards, there is no longer any documentary evidence of a Soest salt works. On the other hand, the Sassendorf salt works is mentioned for the first time in the 12th century, which produced salt until the beginning of the 19th century. It can be noted that citizens of Soest also owned brine and salt house property and later also boiling rights in Sassendorf and conducted extensive salt trade.