What did the builders of Stonehenge eat and drink? How do we know? Why is this rudimentary aspect of daily life elusive in the archaeological record? Travis Rupp examines the evidence of beer production in Neolithic and Bronze Age Britain. Particular attention will be given to the Beaker People and the collective beer culture that flourished in Western Europe from 2800-1800 BCE. Rupp discusses how beer was produced, what it might have tasted like, and why evidence for beer production can be difficult to find in the archaeological record. In the end, Rupp will demonstrate how local brew was a dietary staple from Neolithic to Roman occupied Britain spanning thousands of years.

Travis Rupp, aka the Beer Archaeologist, is a Professor of Classics, Art History, Anthropology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He serves on the National Advisory Board for the Chicago Brewseum.

THIS SESSION IS SUPPORTED BY: