In March 2016, extensive remains of structures associated with the system were discovered during excavations at Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, and is a work protected as a Cultural Property of Local Interest.

In 2004, an archaeological excavation was carried out where the remains of a section of a Roman aqueduct and structures of a medieval mill came to light, but none of this is currently visible due to the construction of a school-workshop on the lot where they were located.

The construction of the Rec dates back to the 10th century and was possibly commissioned by Count Mir to boost the industry that was beginning to be established around Barcelona.

The Rec is the protagonist of a large number of studies, but we lack one that embraces both morphological and diachronic and territorial research.

The walls were of Montjuïc stone ashlars, joined with lime mortar, with a base of natural earth, without any special coating.

[2] Where the most changes occurred in relation to the shape and layout of the Rec was within the city, where it functioned as a street - canal, becoming a partially covered structure, and often with large bridges such as the which can be seen inside the Born.

This one did not only run mills, in the area of Sant Andreu, in the 12th century, a forge was also built there, which was the property of the Canon and its function was to repair the field tools of all the farmers in more than half of the plan of Barcelona.

At another point, the Rec turns sharply to the south, perpendicular to the slope, in the direction of the Dormidor or gunpowder mill, while the Roman aqueduct maintains a more gradual descent, adapting to the documentary evidence as it passes between the path of Sant Adrià and the path of Horta, and continues following the slope until it fits with the pillar of Magdalenes 25.

The fundamental purpose of the Rec was to move the mills located along the route, to irrigate the land, to supply new productive areas with a great need for water, such as butchers, or tanneries, etc.