‘The Lovers’ of Hasanlu, Iran - Hoax or Fact?

‘The Lovers’ of Hasanlu, Iran - Hoax or Fact?

Lately this photograph has been circulating on the internet, claiming it is 6000 years old kiss found in Hasanlu, Iran. Hasanlu is an archaeological excavation site in Iran, Western Azerbaijan, Solduz Valley. Theses skeletons were found in a Bin with no objects. The only feature is a stone slab under the head of the skeleton on the left hand side

Analysis: Partly Hoax

The message comes with a picture showing two skeletons buried in ground, appearing to kiss each other - claiming that it is a 6000 years old kiss of two lovers found in Hasanlu, an archaeological excavation site in Iran. Although the picture is genuine and such a discovery was in fact made in Hasanlu, the skeletons are not 6000 years old.

Teppe Hasanlu, located in northwest Iran is a famous archaeological site of an ancient city and was excavated in 10 seasons between 1956 and 1974 by a team from the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania and the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Over the years they found many interesting discoveries in Hasanlu. One among them are these skeleton couple found in 1972. The source of this image, the Penn Museum blog called it as 'The Lovers' and describes it as:

The Lovers’ from 1972 season at Hasanlu

Hasanlu is an archaeological excavation site in Iran, Western Azerbaijan, Solduz Valley. Theses skeletons were found in a Bin with no objects. The only feature is a stone slab under the head of the skeleton on the left hand side (SK335).
Penn Museum Image #97482.

A list of important events in the website of the University of Pennsylvania mentions that the University Museum has exhibited these 'Hasanlu Lovers' skeletons in 1974.

The University Museum exhibits the “Hasanlu Lovers,” a pair of entwined skeletons who died together in about 8oo B.C.
This makes it clear that the pair of entwined skeletons were discovered in 1972 in Hasanlu, and 'The Lovers' as they are termed were estimated to have died together around 800 B.C, i.e. about 2813 years ago, not 6000 years as mentioned in the message. Of course, the skeletons do appear like they are kissing each other before they died - as if to signify that love is eternal.

Source: http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Inspirational/6000-year-old-kiss-found-in-hasanlu-iran-facts-analysis.html