Oldtidsagre - Genstandskundskab

Nr.1 157
likely that the long and narrow fields in the "()ldtidsager"-groups were ploughed
with an arð with a long sole, ofthe Vebbestrup-type (pictured STEENSBERG 1942, p. 10).
On the other hand, it is an obvious conjecture that the long fields in certain
"()ldtidsager"-groups in Jutland might be due to cultural inlluences from fertile
regions where the mould-board plough and the strip-field were at that time already
introduced. It may be that the arð was retaincd in poor, sandy regions, although
the form of the strip-field was imitated, to some extent.
Vl. Different types of ancient fields.
Had the soil any influence upon the form of the fields?
Two types of “()ldtidsagre" may be distinguished in Jutland: 1. A short and
broad form. 2. A long and narrow form.
The first of these is common. The fields are often more or less rectangular.
However. they may also have more than four sides, and the angles may deviate
considerably from 90°; sometimes one of the corners may be turned inwards. \\'hen
three balks meet, two of the angles are often considerably more than 90 °, and the
third angle considerably less than 180 °. The formation of irregular shapes is furthered
by the unevenness of the terrain; however, irregular forms may also occur on perfectly
flat ground.
The second type does not occur so frequently, although it is dominating in
some localities, namely in a considerable part of No. 12, Rødland heath, in the western
part of No. 35, Byrsted heath, in No. 81, Thorsted 3, No. 83, Hoyer, No. 97, Egvad.
The length of these fields is several times the breadth. One of the fields in the western
part of Byrsted heath was 330 m long, and only 15 m broad.
The broad fields were ploughed with arð in two directions, perpendicular to
each other. That is positively known from the find of “Oldtidsagre“ with traces of
ploughing beneath the village-site at Nørre Fjande (HATT 1941, pp. 157 seqq.). It
seems likely, that the long and narrow fields were, in the main, only ploughed
lengthwise.
The broad fields were probably ploughed with an implement like the Døstruparð.
The long fields may have been worked with a more effective arð, of the Vebbestrup-type.
The absence of any furrows, visible on the surface, makes it unlikely
that a mould-board plough was used on any of the “Oldtidsagre".
The material does not permit of a sharp distinction between the short-broad
and the long-narrow type of ancient fields. In the few instances where the long type
is dominating, it mostly occurs together with the short and broad type. And in many
localities where the short-broad type dominates, it is associated with a few fields of
the long-narrow type.
The division of fields in equal portions, probably at the partition of an inheri­