A new archaeological study sheds light on the personal lives of medieval sex workers, revealing a moving and unexpected act of maternal care inside a 14th-century brothel in Aalst, Belgium.
The centre of the study is the burial of a three-month-old infant boy, discovered in 1998 beneath the floor of the Nederstove, a medieval bathhouse and brothel. Nearly three decades later, biomolecular analysis has revealed new details: the child was breastfed and had been wrapped in a shroud, then carefully placed near the hearth within the brothel’s domestic area.
By extracting ancient DNA and analyzing stable isotopes from the infant’s ribs, the researchers confirmed both his sex and that he was actively being breastfed before death, evidence pointing to postnatal care. These findings challenge long-held assumptions that associate prostitution in the Middle Ages exclusively with infanticide, abortion, or abandonment.
“Brothels regularly pop up in historical records from cities like Bruges and Ghent, notably when brothel owners are being fined for not paying their taxes. However, little is known about the personal lives of the women working in these houses,” explains Dr. Maxime Poulain, who led the study.
Burial by the Hearth: A Sign of Care
The location of the grave also carries significance. The infant was buried near the hearth used to heat the bathhouse—a place of warmth and daily activity. According to medieval folklore, it was believed that the soul lingered near the body after death, and the embers of the hearth could offer comfort to the spirit.
“The smoldering embers allowed the child to return and warm up at night,” Poulain notes.
Far from being an act of concealment or criminal neglect, the burial appears to be a deliberate and caring gesture, shaped by emotional ties, financial constraints, and contemporary beliefs about death and the soul.
This discovery contributes to a growing body of research that humanises the experiences of sex workers in medieval society. The evidence suggests that these women, often relegated to the margins of historical narratives, were also capable of deep maternal affection and care—even under the most challenging circumstances.
“We get a very moving perspective on motherhood at the margins of society,” Poulain adds.
🏺 New research just published! 🧪
A rare case from a 14th-century brothel in Aalst reveals an infant that was likely breastfed and buried with care — challenging long-held assumptions about medieval sex workers and infanticide.
The study invites a rethinking of medieval brothels—not just as sites of commerce and moral judgement, but also as homes, where grief, belief, and love could coexist.
The article, “Born in a brothel: new perspectives on childcare with medieval sex workers,” by Maxime Poulain, Céline Bon and Jessica Palmer, is published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Excavation of the heated baths in the medieval brothel. Photo by Flanders Heritage Agency.
A new archaeological study sheds light on the personal lives of medieval sex workers, revealing a moving and unexpected act of maternal care inside a 14th-century brothel in Aalst, Belgium.
The centre of the study is the burial of a three-month-old infant boy, discovered in 1998 beneath the floor of the Nederstove, a medieval bathhouse and brothel. Nearly three decades later, biomolecular analysis has revealed new details: the child was breastfed and had been wrapped in a shroud, then carefully placed near the hearth within the brothel’s domestic area.
By extracting ancient DNA and analyzing stable isotopes from the infant’s ribs, the researchers confirmed both his sex and that he was actively being breastfed before death, evidence pointing to postnatal care. These findings challenge long-held assumptions that associate prostitution in the Middle Ages exclusively with infanticide, abortion, or abandonment.
“Brothels regularly pop up in historical records from cities like Bruges and Ghent, notably when brothel owners are being fined for not paying their taxes. However, little is known about the personal lives of the women working in these houses,” explains Dr. Maxime Poulain, who led the study.
Burial by the Hearth: A Sign of Care
The location of the grave also carries significance. The infant was buried near the hearth used to heat the bathhouse—a place of warmth and daily activity. According to medieval folklore, it was believed that the soul lingered near the body after death, and the embers of the hearth could offer comfort to the spirit.
“The smoldering embers allowed the child to return and warm up at night,” Poulain notes.
Far from being an act of concealment or criminal neglect, the burial appears to be a deliberate and caring gesture, shaped by emotional ties, financial constraints, and contemporary beliefs about death and the soul.
This discovery contributes to a growing body of research that humanises the experiences of sex workers in medieval society. The evidence suggests that these women, often relegated to the margins of historical narratives, were also capable of deep maternal affection and care—even under the most challenging circumstances.
“We get a very moving perspective on motherhood at the margins of society,” Poulain adds.
The study invites a rethinking of medieval brothels—not just as sites of commerce and moral judgement, but also as homes, where grief, belief, and love could coexist.
The article, “Born in a brothel: new perspectives on childcare with medieval sex workers,” by Maxime Poulain, Céline Bon and Jessica Palmer, is published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Excavation of the heated baths in the medieval brothel. Photo by Flanders Heritage Agency.
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