Evidence for Roman Infanticide?

Over 100 bodies of new born babies buried around a Roman villa at Yewden have been interpreted as evidence for Roman infanticide - the thinking being that the large number of new born babies buried is an abnormal distribution of foetal and new born deaths so they are evidence of infanticide. Therefore might the villa have been a Roman Brothel?

The alternate explanation is that the Villa was a cult centre for a Mother Goddess cult and women came here to give birth. Bone cuts on the thighs of a baby may imply embrotomy where a baby trapped in the birthcanal is cut up in order to get the baby out and save the mother's life. These operations were carried out from 4th Century BC.


BBC News - Roman dead baby 'brothel' mystery deepens

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