diff --git a/include/cereal/version.hpp b/include/cereal/version.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c06f84943
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/cereal/version.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*! \file version.hpp
+    \brief Macros to detect cereal version
+
+    These macros can assist in determining the version of cereal. Be
+    warned that cereal is not guaranteed to be compatible across
+    different versions. For more information on releases of cereal,
+    see https://github.com/USCiLab/cereal/releases.
+
+    \ingroup utility */
+/*
+  Copyright (c) 2018, Shane Grant
+  All rights reserved.
+
+  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+      * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+      * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+        documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+      * Neither the name of cereal nor the
+        names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+        derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+  ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+  WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+  DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL RANDOLPH VOORHIES OR SHANE GRANT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+  DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+  (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+  LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+  ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+  (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+  SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*/
+
+#ifndef CEREAL_VERSION_HPP_
+#define CEREAL_VERSION_HPP_
+
+//! The major version
+#define CEREAL_VERSION_MAJOR 1
+//! The minor version
+#define CEREAL_VERSION_MINOR 2
+//! The patch version
+#define CEREAL_VERSION_PATCH 3
+
+//! The full version as a single number
+#define CEREAL_VERSION (CEREAL_VERSION_MAJOR * 10000 \
+                        + CEREAL_VERSION_MINOR * 100 \
+                        + CEREAL_VERSION_PATCH)
+
+#endif // CEREAL_VERSION_HPP_