Lovers of Cluj-Napoca explained

The Lovers of Cluj-Napoca are a pair of human skeletons discovered in 2013 by archaeologists in the cemetery of a former Dominican convent in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.^{[1] [2]} The couple are believed to have lived between 1450 and 1550 – between the year the convent was established and the year the graveyard was secularised.^[2] Analysis by archaeologists confirmed that the skeletons belong to a man and a woman around 30 years of age. The couple were buried facing each other, and with their hands interlocked.^{[3] [4]}

The male appears to have died due to a fight or an accident as his sternum is broken, possibly caused by a blow from a blunt object.^{[5] [6]} Another archaeologist places the blame for the man's death on a broken hip.^[1] The cause of death of the female is unclear from her skeleton. It is unlikely that she died by suicide, as that was considered a sin at the time and would have excluded her from being buried in consecrated ground.^[7]

See also

• Embracing Skeletons of Alepotrypa
• Institute of Archaeology and Art History, Cluj-Napoca
• List of unsolved deaths
• Lovers of Modena
• Lovers of Valdaro
• Lovers of Teruel

References

1. Web site: Buried Couple Found Holding Hands - Archaeology Magazine . www.archaeology.org . 2019-11-25.
2. Web site: LOOK: Romanian Romeo and Juliet Buried Hand In Hand . Davis . Carlo . 2013-04-22 . HuffPost . en . 2019-11-25.
3. Lugli. Federico. Di Rocco. Giulia. Vazzana. Antonino. Genovese. Filippo. Pinetti. Diego. Cilli. Elisabetta. Carile. Maria Cristina. Silvestrini. Sara. Gabanini. Gaia. Arrighi. Simona. Buti. Laura. 2019-09-11. Enamel peptides reveal the sex of the Late Antique 'Lovers of Modena'. Scientific Reports. en. 9. 1. 13130. 10.1038/s41598-019-49562-7. 31511583. 6739468. 2019NatSR...913130L. 2045-2322.
4. Web site: Romanian archaeologists uncover medieval skeletons holding hands. io9. 25 April 2013 . en-us. 2019-11-25.
5. Web site: Romanian archeologists uncover Romeo & Juliet: medieval couple buried together with hands clasped. Romania Insider. 21 April 2013. en. 2019-11-25.
6. Web site: Skeletons of medieval 'Romeo and Juliet' found buried holding hands Abroad in the Yard. Worthington. John. en-US. 2019-11-25.
7. Web site: Skeletons holding hands unearthed in Romania. 2013-04-24. Archaeology Wiki. en-US. 2019-11-25.