Four regions can offer a statistically large enough number of testaments to observe patterns. These are the Mälardalen provinces (Uppland, Västmanland, and Södermanland), the provinces of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and Småland with woodlands in the south, and Scania (Skåne).6 I surveyed all deeds of gifts, with testaments totally dominating. In table 1 below, expensive horses have not been included, as they would distort the comparison with other farm animals. Table 1 shows that testaments reflect society at large. Oxen had a relatively great value on the plains of Scania, and workhorses in the Mälardalen region (also shown by other sources such as inventories or archaeology).8 The dominant position for cattle in the northern parts and in the woodlands in the south is also related to their actual distribution. In my study on the plague, my aim was twofold. I intended to identify peak years and to measure the proportion of testaments (I shall return to the latter in a moment). Annika Björklund in this volume has presented a new quantification of testaments, and my earlier registration overesNumber of animals workhorses oxen cows sheep pigs Östergötland Småland Scania (Skåne) Mälardalen provinces 4 11 4 2 21 13 17 49 85 47 20 19 2 32 22 12 9 12 18 6 tion to other donations are discussed, to identify documents that are related to sickness, death, and fear of death. Cf. Bisgaard 2009, pp. 88–89, who uses deeds of gifts, as testaments in Denmark are too few for the Later Middle Ages. Such studies have been conducted several times, not the least for southern Europe, but not based on the Swedish material. It had even been questioned by some scholars whether Sweden was hit by the Black Death at all. 6 Scania, now a province in southern Sweden, belonged to Denmark for most of the Middle Ages. In the years 1332–1360, however, it was part of the Swedish realm. 7 Source: unpublished chapter in dissertation by Myrdal. – There were also 4 goats from the Mälardalen region, 1 from Östergötland, 2 bullocks and 1 heifer from Småland and 2 bullocks from Scania. 8 Inventories in Myrdal 2007; archaeology in Vretemark 1997. janken myrdal 361 table1: Regional distribution of donated livestock 1268–1382.7
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