during the iron age farming was the main occupation. as evidence of this, there are village grave fields with iron age dolmen, a stone circle and a trident. the villages mared and espered were probably founded in the early middle ages and were approximately equal until the mid-1880s. during the nordic seven years' war (1563-1570) the swedes, led by commander charles de mornay, fought against the forces of danish king frederick ii at the battle of mared, where the present oskarström is now located. in memory of this the halland museum association erected a memorial stone in 1923.