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Chinese archaeologists discover ‘embracing lovers’, but it is the ring that intrigues
- Scientists discovered well-preserved skeletons of what looks like two embracing lovers
- The woman was wearing a band on her ring finger, begging the question of if it was a symbol of love
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A scene of deep love and possible tragedy from over 1,500 years ago was discovered in northern China in 2020 during an excavation of over 600 tombs at a cemetery unearthed by a construction project.
According to a report on the findings, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology this summer, archaeologists discovered the nearly complete skeletal remains of a couple who appear to be embracing before their death in Datong, in Shanxi province.
The scientists believe the couple lived during the Northern Wei dynasty (386-534), which covered much of modern-day north and central China.
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The position of the two skeletons suggested a deep bond. The two were found lying on their side, with the woman appearing to nuzzle her nose into the man’s shoulder. Their arms were wrapped around one another, holding the other’s waist.
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“The message was clear – husband and wife lay together, embracing each other for eternal love during the afterlife,” wrote the 10 authors, who hailed from Chinese and American research institutes.
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