AP/ February 11, 2009, 5:23 PM

"Romeo And Juliet" Unearthed In Italy

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, just 25 miles south of Verona, the romantic city where Shakespeare set the star-crossed tale of Romeo and Juliet.

Buried between 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, the prehistoric lovers 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.

"As far as we know, it's unique," Menotti told The Associated Press by telephone from Milan. "Double burials from the Neolithic are unheard of, and these are even hugging."

The burial site was located Monday during construction work for a factory building in the outskirts of Mantua. Alongside the couple, archaeologists found flint tools, including arrowheads and a knife, Menotti said.

Experts will now study the artifacts and the skeletons to determine the burial site's age and how old the two were when they died, she said.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
8 Comments Add a Comment
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elgraz says:
My God, what a discovery !!!!!!!!!!
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nothappyatall says:
They may LOOK like they were embracing but this could be by accident if both were dumped in and they rolled a little.
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mgpm-2009 says:
"I'll never leave you."

...until the archeologists find us and dig up our bones...

fantastic find.
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chicabear1 says:
I think this is truly amazing! After thousands of years, these human skeletons can provide a plethora of information for the archaeologists. Hopefully, they in turn, can share the findings with the rest of the world. I think this is fascinating that these unearthed skeletons can show this modern world how human beings lived so long ago, perhaps even right down to the tools they used in search of food and what they may have consumed for food. I can't help but wonder how this "Romeo and Juliet" lived and how they died. And they were found hugging...how amazing! This is so interesting! To CBS: Please keep your readers/viewers posted as new info. becomes available!
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observantx says:
wadyaknow:

You're enough to gag a maggot
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ksrugger says:
wadyaknow...you were obviously reading that other story as well...I got a chuckle out of your comment/joke. lighten up, people!
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mitch0927 says:
wadyaknow,
You must be a red neck creep with nothing good to say about anything. Probably sitting there with pimples on your butt from playing with yourself in front of porn on the Internet. Probably doesn't have a job period because you smell of body odor.
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suiteo1 says:
TO wadyaknow

Don't quit your day job!
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