In 2009, a pair of human skeletons were found with their hands interlocked in Modena, Italy. Dating back to some time between the fourth and sixth centuries, the remains were assumed to be of a man and a woman. Archeologists quickly drew comparisons to the famous Lovers of Valdaro and dubbed the pair the "Lovers of Modena."
However, when the University of Bologna analyzed the enamel peptides found on the skeletons in 2019, they were confirmed to belong to two males. It immediately sparked a debate on their relationship. Were they brothers, cousins, comrades, or lovers after all?
There have been multiple instances of embracing skeletons, but so far the Lovers of Modena are the only example in which the two bodies are both male. Some archaeologists have doubts that a pair of homosexual lovers would be buried in such a way and have instead proposed that they were relatives of close age who had died together in battle.
Since several other skeletons displaying signs of trauma have been exhumed in the area, it's quite possible they died in conflict. Yet we have few other clues as to their identity or cause of death. To this day, these "Lovers" remain shrouded in mystery.
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