Journal of Archaeological Science 125 (2021) 105297 0305-4403/© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Identifcation of prehistoric malting and partial grain germination from starch granules in charred barley grains Adam Cordes a, b , Peter Steen Henriksen c , Mette Marie Hald c , Lasse Sørensen b , Poul Otto Nielsen b , Jinchuan Xu d, e , Jørgen Lund h , Niels Algreen Møller g , Finn Ole Sonne Nielsen f , Torben Sarauw h , John Simonsen i , Lotte Reedtz Sparrevohn j , Jørgen Westphal k , Andreas Blennow d , Kim Henrik Hebelstrup a, * a Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse, 4200, Denmark b Department of Danish and Mediterranean Prehistory, National Museum of Denmark, Ny Vestergade 10, Prinsens Palæ, København K, 1471, Denmark c Department of Environmental Archaeology and Materials Science, National Museum of Denmark, I.C. Modewegsvej, Brede, Lyngby, 2800 Kgs, Denmark d Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark e School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510640, China f Bornholms Museum, Sankt Mortens Gade 29, Rønne, 3700, Denmark g Museum Thy, Jernbanegade 4, Thisted, 7700, Denmark h Nordjyllands Historiske Museum, Algade 48, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark i Museum Salling, Kisumvej 32, Rønbjerg, Skive, 7800, Denmark j Kroppedal Museum, Kroppedals Alle 3, Taastrup, 2630, Denmark k Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen, Hammerichsgade 14, København V, 1611, Denmark A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Starch granules Barley Emmer Malting Agriculture Archaeobotany Danish prehistory ABSTRACT This paper presents results from a study of starch granules in charred archaeological grains with the purpose of identifying markers of malting. Starch granules are microstructures from plant organs that can be identifed to the level of plant genus based on their shape and size. Starch granules have been extracted from archaeological deposits. However, surprisingly few studies have focused on identifying starch granules preserved in the actual cereal grains. This study included experimental charring of modern cereal grains to investigate whether starch granules survive charring, as well as investigating an assemblage of charred barley grains from Danish archae- ological excavations spanning the Early Neolithic (3900 BCE) to the Late Viking Age (1050 CE). We show that starch granule structures can be preserved in charred archaeological grains using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Three different types/phases of starch granule preservation in charred archaeological grains are observed: 1) separate granules, 2) partly plastisized granules and 3) fully plastisized granules. Two grains dated to the Viking Age (800 CE – 1050 CE) and 1st century CE (Roman Iron Age), respectively, had holes on the surface of their starch granule similar to those seen in malted/germinated barley (called amylolytic pores). Both grains were found in circumstances with other indications of malting activity. Another grain dated to 50 BCE (Pre- Roman Iron Age) also contained starch granules with amylolytic pores that marks the beginning of germination. However, this grain was found in a vessel of stored unthreshed grain in a grain storage basement and therefore is more likely to be an outcome of unintended germination. The identifcation of the germination process – acci- dental or deliberate – from starch granules in charred cereal grains means that we are now able to identify malting in prehistory from the cereal grains themselves, including naked grains, which has hitherto not been possible on morphological grounds. 1. Introduction Malting of cereal grains is a prerequisite for the production of beer, and ancient malted grains are one of the most direct lines of evidence we have for beer production in the past. The process of malting involves the intentional germination of grains, which partly breaks down starch * Corresponding author. Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse, 4200, Denmark. E-mail address: kim.hebelstrup@agro.au.dk (K.H. Hebelstrup). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jas https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105297 Received 9 April 2020; Received in revised form 13 November 2020; Accepted 17 November 2020