Date: 2003
Description: The emergence of villages and the open field system occurred in the early medieval period (11th century). This was a communal arrangement where three large fields were divided into strips or "selions". Ridge and furrow, as shown in the illustration, arose from driving a mouldboard plough, drawn by 8 oxen, in narrow lines. This aided drainage and increased crop yields. Individual farmers owned the strips, but not every one had an equal share. The Lord of the Manor would have owned the greatest proportion, while the peasant would only own a few. (Illustration by Sheila Sancha).
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