Ploughing in medieval times on the territory of presentday Serbia

Abstract

During medieval times the majority of the population in the territory of present-day Serbia dealt with agriculture, as evidenced by a number of farming tools found at archaeological sites. In this paper, ethnological, iconographic, textual, archaeological and arhaeozoological evidence for the method of medieval tillage and the typological evolution of the plough are presented. Specific pathological changes in the distal parts of the limbs potentially caused by the intensive use of animals in draught work are also discussed. Two different types of ploughing devices - usually pulled by a pair of oxen were used - ralo (ard) and plug (mouldboard plough), in Serbia during the Middle Ages. Work-related pathologies were observed in faunal assemblages from two medieval sites dated to the second half of the 14th century.