your welcome birdland.
I have always thought the same about Eriador.
In UT we are however given to see that the Wilderland was full of folks, your missing woodcutters, loose settlements of Men.
The Rohirrim had a burg near MtGundabad that shows up on no map.
Also during the relams of Arnor and arthedain and co. we never see the many cities and towns which must have existed during the 3rd age.
Another factor [in Eriador] - Sauron and War.
From 1409 -1975 Arthedain and co. were under near perpetual war from Angmar.
A 500 year war is longer than anything I have ever heard of.
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The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.
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