“Not to share us until death” is a picture of the speeches of some dedicated lovers of history. From courtyards in Romania the Neolithic Proto-City in Turkey, archaeologists around the world have buried ancient couples in an eternal embrace. The list of some of the most dedicated cemeteries unearthed by experts in recent years is sure to confirm your outlook on romance, making promises so bold that they will blush Romeo and Juliet.
The Two Male ‘Lovers of Modena’ Found Buried Holding Hands
Known by the nickname “Modena’s boyfriend”, the Italian couple first discovered in 2009 when archaeologists were excavating the city of Modena. The two buried together and shared the same tomb for the last 700 years, but poor bone preservation made it difficult to determine the couple – including their gender.
In the fourth and sixth centuries, there was a man and a woman as gestures of love in common. It has long believed that the two followed the same pattern until an analysis published in a scientific report in 2019 found these two to be biological males. Using mass spectroscopy, archaeologists analyzed the proteins in their tooth enamel and compared them to 14 other skeletons buried near the two, concluding that they were both males and had never seen this type of burial practice before not used to celebrate.
“No other tombs of this type are currently known,” study author Federico Lugli said in a statement at the time. “Several graves were found in the past with a handful of people, but in all cases it was a man and a woman. What remains of the connection between the two men at Modena’s funeral remains a mystery now.” Archaeologists suggest that they are family members or soldiers who died together but cannot deny that they were a romantic couple.
The Intertwined Italian Lovers of Valdaro
Between 5000 and 6000 years ago, Indonesian Valdaro lovers buried in their Neolithic tombs, with their arms and legs facing each other in perpetual embrace. Double graves are rare at this time and location is even rare. Archaeological analysis confirms that according to a publication archeology from the American Archaeological Institute, men and women were about 5 feet 2 inches tall and not more than 20 years old at the time of death. To determine more information, each prominent bone needs to taken for further analysis from its tomb alignment – excavators refused to do anything at the time of discovery.
Archaeologist Elena Menotti, who announced the discovery in 2007, told Reuters: Instead, they removed all the blocks of the resting earth and sent them to an archaeological laboratory.
Further investigation revealed no indication of violent death, leading some to believe that the couple held each other on a cold night. Experts say the two probably placed in this position after their deaths, Time reported.
