Abstract
In the late medieval and early modern period, beer and herring emerged as the predominant export
products from the coastal region of the Netherlands. The archaeological tangible evidence of these two
products are represented by casks. Even though these casks are a common find during archaeological
research determining the original contents of these casks remains a challenge. This makes it difficult to
connect users of the casks to specific products and their trade networks. This study is focused on the
identification of Dutch beer and herring casks that were produced between the 15th and 18th centuries.
To address this goal, various types of sources were utilized. Information regarding cask construction was
obtained from archival legislative records. During their use, the casks were subject to monitoring by urban
authorities and guild councils, who employed gauge instruments that are now preserved in museum
collections, which were used to ascertain their specifications.
Additionally, the casks themselves provide valuable insights into the packing material of beer and herring.
Both casks depicted in artwork and those recovered from maritime archaeology sites were examined to
gain a comprehensive understanding of beer and herring casks