Diorama of Medieval Ploughing, 14th Century

Diorama of a Mediaeval village showing the three-fold system of Diorama of Medieval Ploughing, 14th Century

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Diorama of a Mediaeval village showing the three-fold system of
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Diorama of a Mediaeval village showing the three-fold system of cultivation. The plough was extremely difficult to force through the soil and as many as eight oxen might be used in heavy conditions. The scene shows the system of strip farming where the land was laid out in large open fields and then distributed between villagers in the form of long strips. The ploughs and oxen were communally owned, and the strips were allocated in rotation as they were ploughed so that sowing could be done progressively. Based on illustrations in the 14th century Luttrell Psalter at the British Museum.

Details

Category:
Agricultural Engineering
Object Number:
1944-40
Materials:
wood (unidentified), paint, plaster, papier-mâché, textile and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall (appx, as displayed): 1370 mm x 2585 mm x 1230 mm,
type:
farming, dioramas and small holdings
credit:
British Council