kärryt

Kärryt are wheeled vehicles used for transporting goods and, in some cases, people. They are typically drawn by humans or draft animals and pushed by hand in smaller sizes. They have appeared in farming, trade, and everyday life since ancient times and remain in use in some contexts today, especially in rural areas or for ceremonial purposes.

A basic kärry consists of a chassis or frame, one or more axles, wheels, and a cargo bed or platform. The hitch connects to a horse, ox, or person. Materials historically included timber and iron; later steel and metal fittings offered greater durability. Wheels usually have wooden or metal rims and may have iron tires to reduce wear. Suspension ranges from rigid frames to simple leaf springs.

The most common forms are two-wheeled carts, designed for light loads and easy turning, and four-wheeled wagons for heavier loads. Smaller two-wheeled handcarts are pushed by hand; larger carts use yokes or shafts for animal or human propulsion.

Early carts emerged in the Neolithic and Bronze Age in many regions and were adapted for agriculture, transport, and warfare. In Scandinavia, kärryt played a central role in farming, logging, and trade before mechanization. With the advent of motor vehicles, their practical use declined, but simple wooden carts remain in use for gardening, markets, tourism, and cultural heritage.

The word kärry originates from older Germanic terms for wagon, related to words in other Scandinavian languages and neighboring languages for a cart. See also: wagon, cart, wheelbarrow.