jakokirja

A jakokirja, sometimes translated as a "division book" or "distribution book," is a historical type of ledger or record used in Finland, particularly during the period when communal land ownership and agricultural practices were prevalent. These books were essential for managing and documenting the division of resources, responsibilities, and harvests within a village or a larger community.

The primary function of a jakokirja was to record how communal lands, such as fields, pastures, and forests, were allocated among the households or individuals belonging to that community. This allocation could be based on various factors, including historical rights, land quality, or the needs of each household. The jakokirja would detail which parts of the land were assigned to whom, for what duration, and often included regulations or agreements concerning their use.

Beyond land division, jakokirjat could also document the distribution of communal labor, such as maintenance of fences, roads, or irrigation systems. They might also record the allocation of shared resources like water from a well or wood from a common forest. In essence, the jakokirja served as a formal agreement and a historical archive for the cooperative management of rural resources and activities in Finnish society before more individualistic land ownership patterns became widespread. These documents provide valuable insights into the social and economic structures of historical Finnish rural communities.