During the 19th century and well into the 20th century, hundreds of miles of ditches were dug through the bogs and forests of Norrland. Today, ditch digging has long since ceased. But the ditches are still there.
In the spring of 2023, staff at Västerbotten Museum and Folkrörelsearkivet in Umeå conducted an investigation of the ditch systems on Blaikfjället in Vilhelmina municipality. The ditches were mapped and measured, and minutes and accounts were examined in the archives.
But in the archives, they also found the people who were there, with pickaxe and shovel on the low mountain bogs. Listen to Anna Stén and Mattias Johansson as they talk about Salomon Persson at Granliden, Olof Eriksson from Tjäl, Erik Persson in Mark and Elsa from Gitsfjäll, whose cottage still stands today. Also take part in documents and beautiful old maps that describe an era in the county's history.
Participants: Anna Stens, Folkrörelsearkivet in Umeå and Mattias Johansson, Västerbottens museum.
In Swedish.
Eng.
During the 19th century and well into the 20th century, hundreds of miles of ditches were dug through the marshes and forests of Norrland. Today, ditch digging has long ceased. But the ditches remain.
In the spring of 2023, staff at the Västerbotten Museum and the Folk Movement Archive in Umeå carried out an investigation of the ditch systems at Blaikfjället in Vilhelmina municipality. The ditches were mapped and measured, and records and accounts were examined in the archives.
But in the archives they also found the people who were there, with picks and shovels on the bogs of the low mountains. Listen to Anna Sténs and Mattias Johansson as they tell about Salomon Persson on Granliden, Olof Eriksson from Tjäl, Erik Persson in Mark and Elsa from Gitsfjäll, whose cabin still stands today. Also take part in documents and beautiful old maps that describe an era in the county's history.
Participants: Anna Stens, Folk Movement Archive in Umeå and Mattias Johansson, Västerbotten Museum.