Peat bogs have been deteriorating for a long time, for a variety of reasons: drying out, pollution and tourism. After days of felting vulnerable wool fleece for the project Ljochtstill in Earnewâld, I’m asking myself: What kind of historic remains can I possibly find in the vulnerable layers of the landscape around Earnewâld? Well, soon I will find out about it.
Detail of Eekhoff map 1847- 48 of the environment of Earnewâld (Friesland). The small village is concentrated on almost an island like spot. Notice the difference between the morphology of parcels close to the village and behind. Once this area was a high moor landscape and first land reclamation started along the small rivers. Small streams became taller like nowadays It Wiid (on the map Eernewoudser Wijd) caused by water level rising and subsidence. Through the centuries farmers began to cultivate land in long small parcels behind their farms. Matching lines of parcel borders on both sites of de Eernewoudser Wiid en de Folkerts Sloot are an indication that land reclamation begun elsewhere. I wonder if the irregular formed parcels around the village are an indication of clay washed over peat. (Source map: collection Tresoar).
Feltscape 