Archeologists uncover mysterious floor made from bones in red light district thought to be 500 years old
A grim discovery has been made in one Dutch red light district, with archeologists discovering a floor made of bones that are thought to be 500 years old.
While Amsterdam's Red Light District is arguably the most famous in the world, the Netherlands has numerous pleasure districts, and while digging in the Dutch city of Alkmaar, archeologists made a gruesome discovery inside a building located in the red light district of Achterdam.
During renovations, a team of archeologists uncovered an ancient floor that's comprised of animal bones. Instead of tiles or some pretty mosaic giving us a glimpse into the past, this macabre decoration is made up of metacarpals and metatarsals of Dutch cattle.
More than being some agricultural burial site, the bones have been cut to specific sizes and arranged in a pattern.
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The current house was built in 1609, suggesting that it was built on top of the bone floor that contains animal bones thought to be from the 15th century.
The bone floor had been covered with a thin layer of sand, silt, and clay (known as loam) and then a more recent tile floor.
This sort of discovery is extremely rare, with them only being documented in north Holland.
The Achterdam floor is said to closely resemble one found in the northwest city of Hoorn.
There are also questions about why this specific area would've been selected, especially considering it was long before it became the Acterdam red light district.
In 1811, the French government set regulations for 'huizen van ontucht' (houses of fornication), although the larger city of Alkmaar is thought to be around 1,000 years old thanks to its being mentioned in a 10th-century document.
Speaking to Heritage Alkmarr, archeologist Nancy de Jong said, "We were very happy to have the opportunity to see this bone floor with our own eyes. It is always a privilege to uncover something from a long-gone era and to add new information to the history of Alkmaar."
The site asks: "The question is of course why bones were used to fill the tiled floor. Tiles were not particularly expensive and were often used. It is possible that the bones were placed there for a special reason.
"Perhaps because it fitted in well with the craft that was probably practiced here. It could also have been a cheap way of filling."
Alderman for Heritage, Anjo van de Ven, was excited by the discovery, concluding: “Discovering this floor is incredibly interesting. The work of our archaeologists is extremely important and I am therefore pleased that they are given the opportunity to regularly look at projects and that companies and residents know where to find them when they are needed.
"Especially in the historic city centre of Alkmaar, it is so important to treat the soil with care.
"There are still so many hidden stories that are being preserved, waiting for our archaeologists to come and find them. I am always enthusiastic when I receive a call with an update on a find. What cool things have they discovered now? – I think."
Work continues to try and more accurately date the floor and figure out why it was created in the first place. While not as grisly as something as the Catacombs of Paris, it's still a fascinating peek into the past.