The mystery of the barrels in the Sala silver mine is solved: "Now we know what they were used for"

For several years, divers have been clearing the remains of life down in the mine.

Below the water surface, beer bottles, miners' slippers, small hoof tracks from horses and other objects have been found.

Most of the things have been known and could have been placed in a context, but the barrels found at a depth of 190 meters have remained a mystery.

It was not until February this year that the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

Then a document was found written by the old manager at the Gustaf Granström mine (1851 - 1941).

The documents described how the barrels were an important part of the mine's industrialization and a new way of extracting silver from the mine.

In the clip above, you will hear how the barrels were used.