Medieval Friars Were Filled With Worms

When it comes to cleanliness, the Middle Ages were far from consistent. For the majority of medieval townsfolk, sanitation systems consisted solely of filth-filled cesspits — cavities cleared out of the ground for the collection of feces and other forms of garbage. Yet, for the tiniest minority of individuals, which included the residents of friaries, monasteries and nunneries, access to running water allowed for the frequent clearing out of waste.