Mashes to Mashes, Crust to Crust. Presenting a novel microstructural marker for malting in the archaeological record.

ABSTRACT: The detection of direct archaeological remains of alcoholic beverages and their production is still a challenge to archaeological science, as most of the markers known up to now are either not durable or diagnostic enough to be used as secure proof. The current study addresses this question by experimental work reproducing the malting processes and subsequent charring of the resulting products under laboratory conditions in order to simulate their preservation (by charring) in archaeological contexts and to explore the preservation of microstructural alterations of the cereal grains. The experimentally germinated and charred grains showed clearly degraded (thinned) aleurone cell walls. The histological alterations of the cereal grains were observed and quantified using reflected light and

SUBMITTER: Heiss AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7205394 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature