Historical Ecology of Scandinavian Infield Systems

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

An excellent paper, really very intersting.

Reviewer 2 Report

This is an important contribiution on historical ecology of Scandinavian infield systems. The authors contributes to an understanding of how domesticated landscapes with these infield systems developed and changed during the two millennia of their existence. They proved that infield systems were resilient despite several severe crises affecting farming and people’s livelihood. Insights into the historical ecology of infield systems and examination of the niche construction processes behind this old farming system was valuable, especially since it have left many legacies, both in terms of cultural heritage, landscapes, and species-rich ecosystems.

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript investigates Scandinavian transitions and changes of domesticated landscapes over 2000 years. In particular, the paper focuses on infield systems, using the framework of human niche construction, by analyzing their mutual interaction and effects on both culture and environment.

The main concepts of the paper (infields, niche construction theory, etc.), and the terminology used are well presented and introduced. The objectives for work are laid out clearly and convincingly by the two questions reported in section 3.

The adopted approaches and methodologies are detailed, and sound and the supporting visual material is useful to better understand the exposed concepts. The analysis is appropriate in content, length and helpful in terms of overall insight, thus the reviewer suggests accepting the manuscript in the present form.