Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1991, Qupperneq 140

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FAROESE SPADE-CULTIVATION
Fig. 1. Haki, measurd and drawn at Gásadalur in 1986
by R. Guttesen.
largely based on observations made during
the filming and later discussions with those
participating in the operation. In particular,
the then curator, Jóan Pauli Joensen, Forn-
minnisavn, and my colleague, lecturer Rolf
Guttesen, were instrumental in collecting all
the information, not to mention the Gása-
dalsmenn, who proved to be mines of infor-
mation. Devoted work by the film techni-
cians in spite of difficult conditions materia-
lised in a high technical standard of filming
that much helped verification of many ob-
servations. All are hereby gratefully thanked,
including Rolf Guttesen for his valuable ad-
vice during the documentary preparation.
The Practice of Reinavelta
Reinavelta is a type of tillage by hand which
makes use of a special wooden spade, the
haki (fig.l), to form and cultivate a very spe-
cial field-type. The field is divided into 3
meter wide strips, teigar. The surface of each
strip forms a tilted plane: one edge usually
lying about 0.6 m higher than the opposite
(see fig.2). Generally, the strips follow the
gradient (run across the contours) to pro-
mote drainage, while, at the same time, the
surfaces of the teigar are oriented to ensure
best possible exposure.
Velting - tillage by haki - has several
forms. Some of them have been introduced
as recently as the second half of last century.
The form reinavelta is mainly distinguished
from other types of velting (such as flat-
navelta) by the resulting field form. The haki
is used to dig them all.
Early descriptions of reinavelta date back
to 1669 in the work by T. Tarnovius. There-
after descriptions are found in L. Debes’
book (1673), and in J.C. Svabo’s account of