The Archaeology of Moonshine between the Rivers at LBL

This presentation will include information about some unique innovations in moonshining that we can see in the archaeological records today.

 The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area was once referred to as Between the Rivers both in Kentucky and Tennessee. From the time of the first settlers in the late 1700s there existed a tradition of alcohol distillation. This was a natural source of additional income or a product of personal consumption, that could be derived from crops like corn or fruits from orchards. When Prohibition was introduced followed by the Great Depression, these family traditions grew into an industry. Following the end of Prohibition, the moonshine industry continued but legal enforcement became arguably more resilient. 

Carl Feagans holds a master’s degree in anthropology with a focus on archaeology from the University of Texas at Arlington. As an archaeologist, he’s worked both in the Pecos Canyonlands of South Texas and Western Kentucky and Tennessee. Currently he works for the United States Forest Service and is the Assistant Heritage Program Manager at the Land Between the Lakes. As an archaeologist, his current interests lie in 19th century Iron Industry sites of the Cumberland Valley as well as Clandestine Distilleries as they appear in the archaeological record of the Land Between the Lakes.

All programs are free & open to the public