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| The "Bos
t'Ename" woodland preserve is situated on the steep slope of
the valley of the river Scheldt, a fertile area first inhabited by
human communities in prehistoric periods. Five prehistoric sites are
known in the vicinity of Ename, one of them associated with the Michelsberg
culture (c. 4200 BC) in the woodland area itself. At that time, parts
of the forest certainly would have been cleared for agricultural fields,
and cattle, pigs and goats would have grazed in the remaining woodland.
Another prehistoric site has been identified close to the river Scheldt,
containing evidence of habitation, artifacts, and other material remains.. |
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The
historical border between common grounds and wood
established in 1290 AD |
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The village
of Ename grew out of the domain of the Frankish villa "Ehinham",
the center of which was located in Nederename, at a short distance
to the north of the modern village center of Ename. During the Frankish
period, the wood was surely used for grazing and firewood. Large
areas were recognized as common ground, used by the whole community
to graze their animals. There were some long-lasting effects of
this land use. Through intensive grazing, woodland was transformed
into "wastine" (an area of degenerated and damaged wood)
since grazing animals damage existing trees and prevent the growth
of new trees and ground cover.
In the 10th
century, when Ename was founded as a border stronghold of the Ottonian
empire, the Bos t'Ename was the source of timber for building, firewood
for cooking and heating, and charcoal for iron and bronze casting.
When the abbey replaced the Ottonian settlement in the 11th century,
the exploitation of the wood by the new abbey and the adjoining
village community continued much as before. Documents from the archive
of the abbey and historical and paleobotanical research provide
us with evidence of further evolution of the use of the woodland
by the inhabitants of Ename. From abbey manuscripts we know that
the abbey sought to protect the forestry area where timber and firewood
where produced. The monks surrounded the area with a hawthorn hedge
and planted many new trees in the area. This activity is the first
recorded instance of a planned reforestation program in Europe.
The border between the protected woodland and common ground is still
visible in the landscape.
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Another
clearly visible historical element in Bos t'Ename is the sunken
road which runs from the hills to the valley, and which probably
has a prehistoric origin. The prehistoric Michelsberg site lies
only a couple of hundred meters away from its path. In Roman
times, this sunken road probably connected the Roman road and
military camps on the hill tops with the already existing prehistoric
road next to the river Scheldt. In 1244, this road was described
as "cava strata" (a sunken road), which suggests that
it was already ancient and well-worn by the Middle Ages. A straight,
modern road lies next to this old sunken road. |
The
"cava strata",
the sunken road |
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| A point of particular
historical interest in Bos t'Ename is "Rabbit Hill." After
the last ice age, wild rabbits became extinct in Flanders. In the
Middle Ages, domesticated rabbits were imported from southern Europe.
These rabbits provided meat for the wealthy families of the village
and for the abbey, and fur, from which hats and coats were made. Because
the domesticated rabbits were unable to dig natural warrens in the
ground, they were raised in man-made rabbit hills with artificial
holes. Significantly, the field next to "Rabbit Hill" is
called "Hatter's Field", a name which apparently refers
to the hatter who used both the field and hill. |
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| Rabbit
Hill |
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