The Egtved Girl’s beer

In the Egtved Girl’s coffin a bark bucket was found. At the bottom lay a thick brown deposit. When the contents of the bucket were analysed it became clear that it had contained a fermented drink – probably beer sweetened with honey. The drink was made from cowberries or cranberries. Wheat grains, remains of bog myrtle and large quantities of pollen (including lime pollen) were also found.

Pollen is the "fingerprint" of plants and with the aid of careful analysis it is possible to identify the plants that the drink contained.