Happy Valentine’s Day from the Archaoelogical World!

From ancient Hasanlu, Iran with love — the couple shown above were discovered in this position.    Tepe Hasanlu was occupied from the Neolithic period until around 800 BCE, when it was burned to the ground.   These figures were buried with no grave goods, and just a slab under their heads.  What was their story?

Another interesting find, called the “6,000 year old lovers”, or “the lovers of Valdaro”  comes from Italy.  Here, a girl of about 18 and a boy of about 20 were found hugging.  No signs of forced death are apparent, and archaeologists believe that they may have frozen to death, and were found in this position because they were trying to keep  themselves warm.

Check out more on the Hasanlu  project at http://www.penn.museum/sites/hasanlu/index.html!   For more information on the Italian lovers:  http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2092970,00.html