ABSTRACT
The export of timber in various forms was the economic backbone of nearly all the towns of Early Modern Southern and South-Eastern Norway—towns further West and North being mostly dependent on fish. The timber trade put its strong mark on the topography and waterfront of the port towns between Lindesnes (the Southernmost point of Norway) and the border with Sweden at Svinesund. Piles of planks and deals had a great impact on their townscapes and often formed formidable barriers between towns and the sea, dominating the view from incoming ships. At the same time, the timber trade created networks between the towns and their often vast hinterlands, and between the Norwegian timber-exporting towns and a great number of port towns around the coasts of Europe, especially around the North Sea and along the Atlantic coasts.
