• Beruflicher Werdegang
  • 2025-2027: MSCA post-doctoral fellow, Universität Tübingen
  • 2017-2025: Post-doctoral researcher, Ghent University
  • 2016-2017: Scientific collaborator, UCLouvain, Institut des civilisations, arts et lettres (INCAL), Group for early modern cultural analysis (GEMCA)
  • 2013-2016: PhD, Ghent University
• Universitäre Abschlüsse und berufliche Qualifikationen
  • 2023: Human Osteology. Intensive course at Ghent University
  • 2013-2016: PhD in Archaeology, Ghent University
  • 2015: Loza dorada Valenciana y la técnica del reflejo metálico: curso teórico prático. Intensive course at the Museo Nacional de Cerámica in Valencia, Spain
  • 2014: Thin Section Petrography of Archaeological Ceramics: Methods and Applications. Intensive course at University College London
  • 2011: Post-graduate course in GIS, University College Ghent
  • 2010-2011: Master in Archaeology, Ghent University
  • 2007-2010: Bachelor in Archaeology (minor in Art History), Ghent University

Forschungsprojekte

• 2025-2027: A new look at prostitution in medieval Europe: Exploring the potential of ancient pathogen genomics with individuals buried in red light districts (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action - SEXWARC)
• 2020-2025: High tide, low tide: The late-medieval harbour of Bruges as a maritime-cultural landscape (Concerted Research Action, Ghent University)
• 2017-2020: All aboard! An archaeological approach to Belgian diaspora communities in the United States of America (Special Research Fund, Ghent University)
• 2013-2016: The habits of war: Early modern ceramics in Flanders (PhD, Ghent University, fellowship by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship)

Forschungsschwerpunkte

• Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology
• Archaeology of Sex Work
• Material Culture (Ceramics, Metal, Glass)
• Identity and Coastal Communities

• Monographie
  • De Clercq, Wim, Jan Trachet, and Maxime Poulain. 2021. Verdwenen Zwinhavens. Brugge: Provincie West-Vlaanderen.
• Herausgeberschaft
  • De Clercq, Wim, Dumolyn Jan, Trachet Jan, and Poulain Maxime (eds). 2025. Ad Brudgias Portum: The Late Medieval Bruges Harbour System and its Material Culture (in review).
  • Poulain, Maxime, Marc Brion, and Arne Verbrugge, eds. 2022. “The Archaeology of Conflicts : Early Modern Military Encampments and Material Culture.” Oxford: BAR. https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407359618.
• Artikel (Double Blind Peer Reviewed)
  • Poulain, Maxime, Céline Bon, and Jessica Palmer. 2025. “Born in a Brothel: New Perspectives on Childcare with Medieval Sex Workers.” Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (accepted).
  • Poulain, Maxime, Mathijs Speecke, Anton Ervynck, Jan Huyghe, Jan Moens, Marissa Ledger, Eva Vermeersch, Lieselotte Desnerck, An Lentacker, Wim Wouters, Wouter van der Meer, Koen Deforce, Toon De Meester, Nicolas Thomas, Marijn Stolk, Ina Vanden Berghe, Maaike Vandorpe, Alejandra Gutiérrez, Peter Vandenabeele, Wim De Clercq, and Bieke Hillewaert. 2025. “At the Apothecary: Life in an International District in 15th-Century Bruges.” Medieval Archaeology (accepted).
  • Biernacka, Paulina, Wim De Clercq, Elisa Bonduel, Patrick Barnard, Duncan Mc Lean, Rick Harding, Maxime Poulain, Jan Trachet, Stijn Dewaele, and Johan De Grave. 2025. “Fuelling the Blacksmiths Furnace : A Multidisciplinary Study into the Use of ‘smithy’ Coal in the Iron‐working Industry of a Late Medieval Harbour System, Bruges (Belgium).” Archaeometry. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.13036.
  • Ledger, Marissa L., Maxime Poulain, and Koen Deforce. 2024. “Paleoparasitological Analysis of a 15th–16th c. CE Latrine from the Merchant Quarter of Bruges, Belgium : Evidence for Local and Exotic Parasite Infections.” Parasitology 151 (11): 1281–89. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182024001100.
  • Heidbuechel, Natan, Maxime Poulain, and Wim De Clercq. 2024. “Shedding Some Light on Indoor Lighting in 15th-Century Flemish Urban Houses : An Experimental Archaeological Approach.” Medieval Archaeology 68 (2): 382–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/00766097.2024.2419279.
  • Trachet, Jan, Maxime Poulain, Dante de Ruijsscher, Timothy Saey, and Wim De Clercq. 2024. “Marginal Mounds and Maritime Shepherding : A Landscape Archaeological Survey of a Late Medieval Sheep Mound in the Belgian Coastal Plain.” Journal of Wetland Archaeology, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/14732971.2024.2416266.
  • Bogemans, Frieda, Wim De Clercq, Maxime Poulain, Jan Trachet, Jeroen Verhegge, and Vanessa Heyvaert. 2024. “Sedimentary and Stratigraphic Architecture in the Geoarchaeological Context of Late-Holocene Deposits in the Eastern Coastal Plain of Belgium : Zwin Region – Hoeke.” Holocene 34 (5): 519–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836231225721.
  • André, Coralie, Frieda Bogemans, Koen Sabbe, Bart Van De Vijver, Annelies Storme, Luc Allemeersch, Wim De Clercq, Jan Trachet, Maxime Poulain, and Stephen Louwye. 2024. “The Palaeoecological Conditions of the Tidal Channel Network of the Zwin Region (Flanders, Belgium).” Geologica Belgica 27 (1–2): 87–102. https://doi.org/10.20341/gb.2024.007.
  • André, Coralie, Dante de Ruijsscher, Maxime Poulain, Jan Trachet, Wim De Clercq, Frieda Bogemans, Annelies Storme, Koen Sabbe, Bart Van de Vijver, Luc Allemeersch, Frederik D’hondt, and Stephen Louwye. 2024. “A Medieval Embankment near the Lost Harbour of Mude (Zeeland, the Netherlands) : A Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction Based on Palynology and Diatom Analysis.” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104520.
  • Saussus, Lise, Maxime Poulain, and Wim De Clercq. 2023. “Early Modern Pewter from the Castle of Middelburg-in-Flanders (Belgium) : Uses, Material Composition and Ranges of Quality.” Post-Medieval Archaeology 57 (3): 338–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/00794236.2023.2285286.
  • Poulain, Maxime. 2022. “Ocean-Liner Ceramics : A Red Star Line Assemblage in Antwerp, Belgium.” Historical Archaeology 56 (2): 274–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41636-021-00315-2.
  • Saussus, Lise, Yi‑Ting Hsu, Maxime Poulain, Marcos Martinón‑Torres, Nicolas Thomas, and Wim De Clercq. 2022. “Refining Silver at the Castle : The Rare Case of a Large Early Modern Cupel from Middelburg‑in‑Flanders, Belgium.” Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 14 (10). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01655-7.
  • Beernaert, Brigitte, Toon De Meester, Wim De Clercq, Jan Trachet, and Maxime Poulain. 2021. “Verdwenen Zwinhavens Heropgebouwd : Van Historisch Feit Tot Virtuele Realiteit.” Tijd-Schrift 11 (3): 82–97.
  • Poulain, Maxime, and Wim De Clercq. 2020. “Kasteel in Scherven : De Sociale Rol van Aardewerk in Vijftiende- Tot Achttiende-Eeuws Middelburg-in-Vlaanderen.” Tijd-Schrift 10 (2): 22–37.
  • Poulain, Maxime, and Wim De Clercq. 2019. “Travelogue of an Almohad Sherd : From Twelfth-Century al-Andalus to Fourteenth-Century Flanders.” Al-Masaq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean 31 (1): 68–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503110.2018.1548236.
  • Tourigny, Eric, Sarah Newstead, Tânia Manuel Casimiro, Dawid Grupa, Maxime Poulain, and João Luís Sequeira. 2019. “Global Post-Medieval/Historical Archaeology : What’s Happening around the World 2019?” Post-Medieval Archaeology 53 (3): 419–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/00794236.2019.1659589.
  • Poulain, Maxime, and Wim De Clercq. 2018. “Mediterranean Pottery at the Castle of Middelburg-in-Flanders.” Archeologia Postmedievale 20: 83–96.
  • Poulain, Maxime, Marnix Pieters, and Wim De Clercq. 2018. “Everyday Life during the Siege of Ostend (1601-1604) : Ceramics at the Spanish Saint-Isabella Fort.” The Medieval Low Countries 5: 211–47. https://doi.org/10.1484/J.MLC.5.116546.
  • Poulain, Maxime, Jeroen Van Vaerenbergh, and Wim De Clercq. 2017. “A Portuguese Lifestyle in the Flemish Countryside : Ceramics of the Ximenez Family (1595-c. 1700).” Post-Medieval Archaeology 51 (2): 274–308. https://doi.org/10.1080/00794236.2017.1370933.
  • Trachet, Jan, Maxime Poulain, Samuël Delefortrie, Marc Van Meirvenne, and Wim De Clercq. 2017. “Making a Mountain out of a Molehill? : A Low-Cost and Time-Efficient Molehill Survey of the Lost Medieval Harbor Site of Monnikerede, Belgium.” Journal of Field Archaeology 42 (6): 503–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2017.1383106.
  • Poulain, Maxime, Jan Baeten, Wim De Clercq, and Dirk De Vos. 2016. “Dietary Practices at the Castle of Middelburg, Belgium : Organic Residue Analysis of 16th- to 17th-Century Ceramics.” Journal of Archaeological Science 67: 32–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.01.006.
  • Poulain, Maxime, and Wim De Clercq. 2015. “Exploring an Archaeology of the Dutch War of Independence in Flanders (Belgium).” International Journal of Historical Archaeology 19 (3): 623–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-015-0301-x.
  • Poulain, Maxime. 2013. “Notes on the Quantification of Post-Medieval Pottery in the Low Countries: Pottery Quantification in the Low Countries.” Post-Medieval Archaeology 47 (1): 106–18. https://doi.org/10.1179/0079423613Z.00000000027.
  • Poulain, Maxime, Koen De Groote, and Wim De Clercq. 2013. “Pots from Troublesome Times: Ceramics Used in Middelburg-in-Flanders (Belgium) during the Eighty Years’ War.” Edited by Hall Derek, Davey Peter, and Mytum Harold. Medieval Ceramics 34: 1–18.
• Buchkapitel
  • De Clercq, Wim, Jan Trachet, and Maxime Poulain. 2025. “De Zwinsteden: Een Maritieme Microkosmos in Middeleeuws Vlaanderen.” In Wereldsteden van de Lage Landen: Stadsgeschiedenis van Nederland en België, 41–48. Amsterdam/Antwerpen: Atlas Contact.
  • Poulain, Maxime. 2023. “The Post-Medieval Period in Temperate Europe.” In Encyclopedia of Archaeology, Vol. 4, edited by Efthymia Nikita and Thilo Rehren, 2nd ed., 997–1008. London, UK: Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-90799-6.00125-7.
  • Trachet, Jan, Maxime Poulain, and Wim De Clercq. 2020. “Een Kleine Versterking in Monnikerede.” In Bastions Zonder Grenzen : Damme, Sluis, IJzendijke, edited by Jan Hutsebaut and Piet Lombaerde, 106–7. Gorredijk: Sterck & De Vreese.
  • De Clercq, Wim, Maxime Poulain, Jaume Coll Conesa, and Jan Dumolyn. 2020. “Ex Oriente Lux? Jan van Eycks Orientalisierende Bodenfliesen Und Teppiche.” In Van Eyck : Eine Optische Revolution, edited by Maximiliaan Martens, Till-Holger Borchert, Jan Dumolyn, Johan De Smet, and Frederica Van Dam, 316–29. Belser.
  • Poulain, Maxime, and Wim De Clercq. 2015. “Het Arme-Klarenklooster Te Middelburg-in-Vlaanderen (1515-1604): Een Archeologisch-Topografische Analyse.” In Monasterium Clarissarum de Middelburg in Flandria (1515-1604) En de Twee Kloosters Die Er Uit Gesproten Zijn Te Ieper in 1597 En Te Luik in 1604, edited by Eric Verstraete, 64–97. Gemeentelijke Cultuurraad Maldegem.

• Auszeichnungen
  • 2025: Impact Award – European University Alliance ENLIGHT for ‘Lost Ports of the Zwin’ project
  • 2024: Annual Award of the Society for Medieval Archaeology for the best novel interpretation, application of analytical method or presentation of new findings published in its journal (Heidbüchel et al. 2024).
  • 2022: Science Communication Prize, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, Belgium
  • 2021: Finalist of the 2021 Heritage in Motion Award for the ‘Lost Ports of the Zwin’ project (Europa Nostra / European Museum Academy / Europeana)
  • 2015: Laureate of the J.M. van Winter Stipend (University of Amsterdam)
  • 2013: Nominated for the biannual Jacques A.E. Nenquin prize for the best MA thesis at Ghent University and the Free University of Brussels
• Funktionen
  • 2024-…: Promoter of the Interdisciplinary Pirenne Consortium for Medieval Studies, Ghent University
  • 2024-…: Member of the Editorial Board of Handelingen van het Genootschap voor Geschiedenis
  • 2024-2025: Elected Post-Doctoral representative for the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University
  • 2021-…: Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Post-Medieval Archaeology
  • 2018-2021: Steering Committee member of Ghent University’s Postdoc Community

• 2025: Visiting scholar at the University of the Basque Country (ENLIGHT funding)
• 2024: MSCA fellowship for research at Universität Tübingen
• 2024: Research stay at the Netherlands Interuniversity Institute for Art History (NIKI) in Florence (Faculty of Arts and Philosophy fellowship, Ghent University)
• 2024: Awarded with post-doctoral fellowship at the Norwegian Institute in Rome (not accepted due to simultaneous MSC Action)
• 2022: Visiting scholar, Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters, Universität Tübingen (FWO fellowship)
• 2018: Visiting scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (FWO fellowship)
• 2017: Honorary fellow Belgian American Education Foundation (BAEF) (not accepted due to the lack of necessary complementary funding)
• 2016: Research stay at the Belgian Academy in Rome (fellowship of the Belgian Historical Institute in Rome)
• 2015: Research stay at the Bijzondere Collecties at the University of Amsterdam (J.M. van Winter Stipend)