Malting and beer production in Danish Prehistory

Based on a new method developed in a collaboration between the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen University and Aarhus University involving detailed Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies of starch granule structures in charred archaeological cereal grains, we are now able to detect malting-related changes inside the cereal grains. This opens up completely new possibilities for illuminating the extent to which malting and beer production were an integral part of the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age cultures in Denmark. Having a SEM available at the National Museum will make investigation of the Museum's large collection of charred cereal grains from Danish prehistory more practical and will give the optimal basis for achieving new and, most likely, surprising results.