Muldfjælsplovens tidlige historie – Fra yngre romersk jernalder til middelalder

Recent archaeological discoveries have challenged the long-held belief that the mouldboard plough was introduced to Denmark during the Medieval period (c. AD 1000-1200). Contrary to previous assumptions, evidence suggests that this implement was already in use during the Late Roman Iron Age (c. AD 200-400), predating its association with the open-field cultivation system by approximately 700-800 years. The study, based on well-preserved ploughing traces and wooden components from sites like Tating-Haferacker and Danevirke, indicates that the mouldboard plough was part of an earlier agricultural revolution, influencing settlement structures and land use long before the Medieval era. This finding reshapes our understanding of technological adoption in Denmark, suggesting a more gradual integration of advanced cultivation techniques rather than a sudden Medieval innovation.

Agersnap Larsen, L. (2015). Muldfjælsplovens tidlige historie – Fra yngre romersk jernalder til middelalder. Kuml, 64(64), 165–200. https://doi.org/10.7146/kuml.v64i64.24220