Free Republic

Call it the eternal embrace.Archaeologists in Italy have discovered a couple buried 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, hugging each other."It's an extraordinary case," said Elena Menotti, who led the team on their dig near the northern city of Mantova."There has not been a double burial found in the Neolithic period, much less two people hugging -- and they really are hugging."Menotti said she believed the two, almost certainly a man and a woman although that needs to be confirmed, died young because their teeth were mostly intact and not worn down."I must say that when we discovered it, we all...

ROME, Italy (AP) -- It could be humanity's oldest story of doomed love. Archaeologists have unearthed two skeletons from the Neolithic period locked in a tender embrace and buried outside Mantua. The site is just 25 miles south of Verona, the romantic city where Shakespeare set the star-crossed tale of "Romeo and Juliet." Buried between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, the prehistoric pair are believed to have been a man and a woman and are thought to have died young, as their teeth were found intact, said Elena Menotti, the archaeologist who led the dig. (Watch archaeologists uncover the embracing...

6,000-Year-Old Skeletons Found Locked in Embrace Near Greek Cave ROME — They died young and, by the looks of it, in love. Two skeletons of the age of 6,000 found locked in an embrace near the city of Shakespeare set the star-crossed tale “Romeo and Juliet” have sparked theories the remains of a far more ancient love story have been found. Archaeologists unearthed the skeletons dating back to the late Neolithic period outside Mantua, 25 miles south of Verona, the city of Shakespeare’s story of doomed love. Buried between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, the prehistoric pair are believed to...