The Six Thousand Year Old Companions
Although not so impressive as the “5000 year hug” discovered in Italy, a pair of 6ooo year old skeletons were excavated in Chŏlla Namdo province, Korea last March. According to Gwangju National Museum, its excavation team unearthed the skeletons interred side by side at a burial pit in a shell mound in Ando Island, Yŏsu city. This type of burial is the first discovered in Korea. One on the west side, about 158cm in height and with a shell bracelet, is recognized as a woman, whereas the other of about 165cm tall is not yet confirmed to be a man. Although the excavators are still cautious in interpreting the discovery, some Korean newspapers assume that they may have been a couple.
(Trans. Jae-ho Shin)
