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History
of the lake
Lake Hornborga was formed when the ice melted during the Ice Age some
10,000 years ago. The first settlements in the area were made only
a thousand years earlier. At that time, collectors and hunters were
attracted to the rich land at the inlet which subsequently became
Lake Hornborga.
Seven habitats
There are seven habitats in the area that illustrate human activity
during the early Stone Age. At Almeö, the most impressive habitat,
the finds include the remnants of flint tools and the remains of a
domesticated dog - the oldest Nordic evidence of man's use of dogs.
Large numbers of bones, primarily from elk, aurochs and beavers but
also from wild boar, red deer, wolf and bear, have also been found.
Needless to say, fishing played an important role.
Ceramics
About 6,000 years ago, human beings started cultivating this landscape,
with its extensive deciduous forests. This was the start of the farming
Stone Age. Most of the habitats from the period are concentrated on
the northern and eastern shores of the lake. The first ceramic discoveries
date back to this period.
First villages
Some 2,000 years ago, the fields and meadows started to spread at
the expense of the forest. Iron began to play an important role, as
did self-subsistent households.
At the same time, the first villages were set up around the lake;
they included Tranum, Bjällum, Bolum and Hornborga.
The cold climate forced people to gather winter fodder for their cattle.
Rich production in flooded water meadows played a vital part. |
First lowering
With Pehr Tham at Dagsnäs as the driving force, the first decision
to lower the level of the lake was made in 1802. Read more about lowering
and restoring the lake here.
As the lake was drained, the reeds expanded and they soon played an
increasingly important role - as emergency fodder for the animals
but first and foremost as roof-covering material. There are still
a number of reed roofs on buildings along the eastern side of the
lake.
Together with the reeds, water meadow hay-making was an important
factor. The fodder was stored in barns in meadows around the lake.
At the present time, there is a newly-build meadow barn along the
Ytterbergsleden walking track, between Hornborga Naturum and Ytterberg.
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Photo: Västergötland Museum
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Fishing and hunting
During the Second World War, some of the land surrounding the lake
was used for peat cutting. This applied particularly at Röde
mosse in the north and Trestena mosse in the west.
Fishing and hunting were still important for the people round the
lake. Fishing helped them make a living, while hunting was more of
a hobby.
Flat-bottomed boats were used to fish on the shallow lake.
The lowering of the lake had made it impossible to use the kind of
boats that were used in deeper water.
During a short period in the 1890s, a small steamboat - the Ellen
- actually operated between Almeö and Stenum.
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