The oldest millet herbal beer in the Europe? The ninth century BCE bronze luxury bucket from Kladina, Czech Republic
Abstract
In 2017, a luxury bronze bucket was discovered near Kladina village in the Czech Republic. The bucket is dated to the ninth century BCE, and it is a unique artefact, having no parallel in Europe.
Stylistically, it is a "transition type" dated between the Late Bronze Age (11th-10th century BCE) and the Hallstatt Period (eighth-sixth century BCE). Detailed palynological analysis of verdigris and soil infill of the bucket identified a wide range of pollen grains belonging mainly to herbs, with bitter-sour properties, and cereals.
Subsequent chemical analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of soil extracts revealed the presence of the compound miliacin that is a chemical marker of millet. Moreover, a starch analysis reveals the presence of enzymatically modified starch grains.
These data, with the help of archaeological knowledge, indicate that the original content may have been millet-based food/beverage with addition of herbs. We suggest that this luxury vessel, given the contents we have identified, was deposited, in the late spring/summer months of the year.