Intensification of commonland use

A series of village financial records (Gemeindepflegerechnungen) from 1710 to 1870 allow us to trace various parcels of land over the entire period, and to show not only ever more intensive use, but also qualitative changes in the nature of production. There are some gaps in the series of records, which we shall have to take into consideration, but in general we can adequately show the trends by selecting volumes every 20 years over the period.

One of the best indicators of change is the use to which a set of grasslands making up part of the commonland (Allmende) was put. Many of them were designated Wasen, which means turf or grassy area, or a well-watered meadow. At various times, they were in use as year-round pasture, part-time grazing meadow, orchards or gardens. Most of them lay in the vicinity of the Neckar River south of the housing area of the village and were subject to periodic or occasional flooding. The best way to study them is to follow the fortunes of several of the larger parcels over the period.

The first piece, Insele, is at the west end of the village territory (Markung) bordering on the neighboring village of Neckartailfingen. South of the highway and north of the river, it is, according to the 1930 survey map, about 275 meters long and 350 deep. In the financial records of 1710 and 1730, this grassland, like all the others, was not mentioned. By 1750, there was a rubric “pastureland” in the account book, which already suggests a more careful and systematic accounting for all the parts of village commonland.