Roundpole fence

– Construction of Roundpole Fence:
– Made from unbarked and unsplit youngish trees like spruce or juniper
– Consists of uprights put together in pairs
– Horizontal or diagonal round poles between the uprights
– Binding cord usually made from young saplings
– Can include diagonal bracing, stiles, and gates

– Materials Used in Roundpole Fence:
– Young spruce trees with a diameter of 5 to 7cm for upright poles
– Larger trees split into rails for diagonals
– Very young saplings for binding the rails
– Rough sawn boards, preferably with one curved side
– Steel wire replacing saplings for binding in modern times

– Historical Significance:
– Oldest known roundpole fence dates back to the Iron Age
– Oldest archeological find in Sweden was in Leksand
– Traditional countryside fencing in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Estonia
– Originally used for animal enclosure rather than property marking
– Abundance of wood from owners’ forests in Scandinavia

– Variations and Adaptations:
– Incorporation of split spruce logs for rails
– Upright poles always round in shape
– Diagonals made from larger split trees
– Introduction of rough sawn boards in recent times
– Replacement of sapling binding with steel wire

– Cultural and Artistic Depictions:
– Roundpole fence featured in paintings by Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela
– Varied styles in different regions like Småland, Sweden, and Estonian Open Air Museum
– Coat-of-arms of Gjerdrum municipality, Norway
– Traditional Norwegian skigard with slanting rails
– Symbol of rural heritage and craftsmanship