Skeletons Holding Hands for 700 Years

Ancient remains found at burial site in England
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 18, 2014 1:53 PM CDT
Skeletons Holding Hands for 700 Years
The newly unearthed couple in England.   (University of Leicester Archaeological Services)

Archaeologists in England digging at a 14th-century burial site made an unexpected discovery: A couple buried together holding hands had remained that way all this time, reports ABC News. The man and woman were found at the site of an ancient chapel in Hallaton, along with nine other skeletons, reports the Leicester Mercury. The couple appear to be the same age, but scientists plan further study to see whether they can determine the cause of death. They also hope to determine why the bodies were buried at this particular site, quite a distance away from a "perfectly good church in Hallaton," says a lead researcher from the University of Leicester.

Leading theories are that the burial site was used for those who were either sick, criminals, or foreign pilgrims. One man at the site apparently died of a head wound, perhaps from a pole ax in battle, while another had his legs raised to his chest, possibly because of a disease of some kind. Researchers hope further work at the chapel can fill in a gap of about 500 years when not much is known about what went on in the region, reports the International Business Times. (Another recent archaeological discovery sheds light on the brutal way Richard III died.)

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