Was it a sudden death? A ritual sacrifice? Or maybe they were prehistoric, star-crossed lovers who took their own lives? Dubbed the 'Lovers of Valdaro', this Stone Age couple were found outside Mantova, Italy, in 2007. Their eternal embrace has captured the hearts of romantics everywhere.

The Lovers of Valdaro were buried 5 000 to 6 000 years ago, their arms still wrapped tightly around each other. The scientists and archaeologists involved in their recovery were so moved they vowed never to separate them. So instead of removing the bones one-by-one for reassembly later, they scooped up the entire section of earth where the couple were buried. 'We want to keep them just as they have been all this time - together,' declared archaeologist Elena Menotti.

Their removal to the museum which was to become their new love nest, was a relief for the archaeologists. They'd been obliged to hire extra security after the discovery made world headlines and people flocked to the site hoping to get a glimpse of them.

 Five thousand years ago the area around Mantua was marshland and criss-crossed by rivers. It was an environment that helped preserve the skeletons in their near perfect state. Local tribes thrived through hunting and fishing and they travelled along the waterways in boats. But even then the simple hunter-gatherer lifestyle was already being replaced by livestock rearing, weaving and pottery.

In Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is sent to Mantova for killing Tybalt Capulet in a swordfight.

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