Roundpole fence

The roundpole fence is a wooden fence typical to the countryside in Finland (in Finnish: "riukuaita" or "pistoaitta"), Sweden (in Swedish: "Gärdesgård") and Norway (in Norwegian: "Skigard"). It is normally made from unbarked and unsplit youngish trees, mostly spruce or juniper. Roundpole fences have traditionally been used as a means of fencing off animals rather than marking property boundaries.

The fence construction generally consists of 3 or 4 parts: uprights put together in pairs, round poles laid horizontally or diagonally between the two uprights, and binding cord usually made from young saplings - and sometimes also diagonal bracing. The fence is usually 1,5-2 metres tall. The fencing can also incorporate specially made stiles and gates. The fence requires an abundance of wood, which was never a problem in Scandinavia, as the trees generally came from the owners' own forests in the process of thinning them out.

The oldest known roundpole fence dates back to the Iron Age. The oldest known archeological find of a roundpole fence in Sweden was uncovered in Leksand.

References

* [http://www.helsinki.fi/kansatiede/histmaatalous/karjatalous/aitaaminen.htm Korhonen, Teppo: Muuttuva maaseutu - historiallinen maatalous: Erilaisia aitatyyppejä.] (in Finnish only)