The lifecycle of casks: the production, use, and repurposing of casks in the Netherlands (1300–1800)

Abstract

This study examines casks in Dutch archaeological contexts from the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern period (1300–1800). During this time, the Netherlands became highly urbanised, with trade as a key driver of economic development, in which casks functioned as essential transport containers. Despite their frequent archaeological occurrence in shipwrecks and urban contexts, casks have received limited scholarly attention.

This dissertation reconstructs the lifecycle of the cask through multiple sub-studies, combining archaeological data with written sources, iconography, museum objects, and dendrochronology. The central research question explores what this lifecycle reveals about production, use, and repurposing.

Four main themes are identified: production, use, repurposing, and cask marks. Production analysis shows diverse timber provenance across Europe and significant Dutch cask manufacturing organized through guilds. The use phase highlights differences between standardized herring casks and more variable beer casks, reflecting regulation and trade practices. Repurposing shows extensive secondary use of casks as linings for wells and cesspits, mainly driven by economic factors and availability. Finally, cask marks reveal functions related to production, control, identification, and accounting, and can even link archaeological finds to historical vessels, as shown in the identification of the wreck BZN4 as the frigate ’t Hart.