Two ancient skeletons nicknamed “the Lovers of Modena” as they were buried holding hands were both men, researchers have discovered.

The pair, believed to have died between the fourth and sixth centuries, had until now been thought to be a man and a woman.

But when the bones were found near Modena in northern Italy in 2009, scientists could not be sure of their sexes because they were badly preserved.

Now a new technique, using tooth enamel proteins, has revealed they were both male. However, the relationship between the men remains a mystery.

The way in which the pair were buried represents “a voluntary expression of commitment between two individuals” and was not a common burial practice, according to the research, which was published in the Scientific Reports journal.

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