Oldtidsagre - Genstandskundskab

172 Nr.l
\Vith regard to the Danish “()ldtidsagre", it is of especial interest that the fieldsystem
of the old individualistic organization in Cotentin, in Bretagne, and in the
Central Plateau (cf. BLOCH 1931, Pl. X-XII) has a striking resemblance to the ancient
fields of Jutland. In the Central Plateau, above the present line of cultivation,
one may see numerous deserted fields from several periods, very similar to the Jutland
ancient fields of the broad type. The geoprapher L. AUFHERE and the archaeologist
PIERRE FOURNIER, Clermont Ferrand, have kindly pointed out to me these
deserted fields in the Central Plateau, in the summer 1938.
The broad, irregular fields in France are apparently bound up with the araire.
In the Mediterranean region, ploughs of the arð-type are still in use, and the broad,
irregular fields have also survived.
Outside Europe. If we investigate the ploughs and the field-types outside our
part of the world, we shall find the connection between the arð and the broad, irregular
fields also in South and East Asia. This holds good e. g. of the rice-fields
of Asia, whose field-systems may have a striking similarity to groups of ancient fields
in Jutland.
The relation between the arð and the broad field may be regarded as a result
of the ploughing in two directions. Analogically, the strip-fields may be regarded as
a result of ploughing with a heavy mould-board plough. It seems justifiable to look
upon the broad field as an older form than thestrip-field, just as the arð is older than
the mould-board plough. However, one should not disregard the fact that broad fields
may be formed without any arð, and narrow fields without any mould-board plough.
The Norwegian “reitar“ are cultivated with spade, and the very similar plot-fields
from Early Bronze Age or Late Stone Age, which CURWEN has found in Dartmoor,
may have been cultivated with a digging-stick. The narrow fields or beds, which
VAN GIFFEN discovered beneath grave-mounds at Zeyen, seem to have been cultivated
with a hoe.
A study of the field-system of ancient Mexico, where the plough was unknown,
may also act as a warning against an unreserved belief in a theory about fieId-sytems
resulting from types of agricultural implements. The Nahuas had reached a
field-system, reminding of that which, in Europe, is connected with the wheel-plough
(ScHMu5;D15R 1930, p. 27, Fig. 23, pp. 28-29, Plan 2. SCHILLING 1939, pp. 34 seqq.).
It is probable, however, that not only strip-fields, but also broad fields of a more
irregular outline were used in ancient Mexico. At least, such irregular fields are cultivated
to-day by the Zapotec Indians (SCHMIEDER 1930, p. 15 and PI. 30b).
VIII. Conclusion.
Our assertion, that the ancient fields of Jutland and probably also the Dutch
and the English fields of the same type were tilled with an arð, does not rest upon
any theory about the arð producing of necessity broad fields, or broad fields im­