Skogen och utmarken före skiftena: för vem och till vad?

The aim of this paper is to discuss the definition of, and access to, the woodlands and grazing grounds outside the hamlets infield fence in rural Sweden during the 17th century. Traditionally these resources are considered accessible for all the rural inhabitants for several purposes, such as grazing, charcoal burning and wood for timber and heating. This analysis will show that this access was not open, but connected to ownership of arable land, as well as the acreage of this land. The main sources are the geometrical cadastral maps, 1630-1655, with focus on the provinces Småland and Östergötland