The Hasanlu Lovers are two human remains discovered at the Teppe Hasanlu archaeological site in the Naqadeh area of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Around 800 BCE, the city of Hasanlu, located in north-western Iran, was destroyed by an unknown group. Many people were killed and left where they died. In 1972, archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania, led by Robert H. Dyson, found the skeletons during an excavation.

The two skeletons were found together in a bin, appearing to hold each other when they died. Only a stone slab under the head of one skeleton was present. They died around 800 BCE during the final destruction of Hasanlu. About 246 skeletons were found at the site. Scientists do not know how the lovers died or why they were placed in the bin. Both skeletons show no signs of injury near the time of death and may have died from suffocation. The skeletons were displayed at the Penn Museum from 1974 until the mid-1980s.

The right skeleton, called HAS 73-5-799 (SK 335), was found lying on its back. The left skeleton, called HAS 73-5-800 (SK 336), was found on its left side, facing SK 335. Tests were done on the skeletons to learn more about them. Dental evidence suggests SK 335 was a young adult, likely 19–22 years old. Researchers determined SK 335 was male based on the shape of the pelvis. No signs of disease or healed injuries were found on SK 335. SK 336 also showed no signs of disease or healed injuries and was estimated to be 30–35 years old. It was harder to determine the sex of SK 336 at first, but recent studies have shown that SK 336 is male, not female as previously thought. Scientists have debated the meaning of these skeletons since their discovery.

Archaeological record of Hasanlu

Hasanlu is an ancient site in the Near East, located in the Qadar River valley on the southern shore of Lake Urmia in northwest Iran. The city was continuously occupied from the sixth millennium BCE until about 800 BCE, when it was attacked and destroyed by fire. In 1934–1936, the site was excavated by Sir Aurel Stein, a British archaeologist. Later, in 1956, the Hasanlu Project was started with support from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Archaeological Service of Iran. From 1957 to 1974, a team from the Penn Museum, led by Director Robert H. Dyson, conducted nine excavation campaigns at the site. These excavations ended more than 40 years ago (as of 2022).

Archaeologists uncovered remains of large mudbrick walls, thick layers of ash, skeletons, vessels, jewelry, and other items. The site shows clear signs of destruction, which suggests the city was invaded and set on fire. Experts believe the destruction preserved the city in a nearly frozen state, keeping buildings, artifacts, and bones intact. About 246 skeletons, representing different ages and genders, were found. These remains were left in the streets and buildings where the people died. Some skeletons were found in groups, with injuries such as cuts on the head and broken limbs, which may indicate mass executions. Among the skeletons, two were identified as the remains of the Hasanlu Lovers.

The attackers of Hasanlu are unknown. Most scholars think the Urartians were responsible, but the Assyrian Empire was also active in the region. There is no clear evidence from the skeletons or artifacts to identify the invaders. The city is considered protohistoric, meaning no writing was found at the site, unlike nearby areas. Because of this, archaeologists do not know how the people of Hasanlu identified themselves, what language they spoke, or the original name of the city.

Rediscovery and excavation

The skeletal remains of the Hasanlu Lovers were discovered together in a plaster-lined brick bin. No other objects were found except a stone slab placed under the head of one skeleton. The excavation happened in 1972 and was led by Robert H. Dyson, Jr. Dr. Selinsky said the lovers died during the invasion of the area around 800 BCE, during the final destruction of Hasanlu. They did not have any wounds that caused death. Archaeologist Oscar White Muscarella believes the hole in the right skeleton’s skull was not caused by an injury but by a blow from a pickaxe used by workers. When found, the two skeletons were facing and embracing each other. The skeleton on the left was lying on its left side, with its right hand reaching toward the skeleton on the right.

There is no clear explanation for how the two skeletons ended up in the bin—only guesses. One guess is that "they may have crawled into the bin, which was likely covered, and were not noticed." Since their deaths were not caused by injuries, archaeologists think the likely cause of death was asphyxiation, which happened when debris from the burning building fell and trapped them.

Scientific analysis

Anthropologists Page Selinsky and Janet Monge describe in detail the DNA testing of the Hasanlu lovers and how this testing compares to the skeletal assessment of their biological sex.

The 'lovers' were first tested for specific isotopes to determine if there were differences in their skeletal remains and the diets they consumed. The isotopic testing showed that the individuals had varied diets, but these differences were not organized in a specific pattern. Isotopic signatures suggest that the people of Hasanlu ate a range of foods, including wheat, barley, sheep, and goats. Oxygen isotopic signatures also revealed where the individuals lived, showing that the 'lovers' and other Hasanlu people were born and raised in the Hasanlu area.

Selinsky and Monge concluded that both individuals were male. They reached this conclusion by comparing DNA analysis results with skeletal assessments. Dr. Selinsky explained that the pelvis is the most reliable feature for determining the sex of skeletons, as male and female pelvises have distinct characteristics.

The skeleton on the right (SK 335) was found lying on its back. Part of its pelvis was missing, but the sciatic notch showed a narrow gap, a feature typical of a male pelvis. Researchers identified this skeleton as male based on the pelvis. No signs of disease or healed injuries were found on this skeleton.

The skeleton on the left (SK 336) was found lying on its left side, facing SK 335. Determining its sex was more challenging. However, the skull showed male characteristics, while the pelvis had mixed features. Initially, this skeleton was thought to be female because its sciatic notch was wide, a feature common in female pelvises. However, the front part of the pelvis showed an acute angle and was less pulled out, suggesting it belonged to a male. No evidence of disease or healed injuries was found on this skeleton. The sex of the 'lovers' was confirmed through ancient DNA analysis, which showed both individuals were male.

The ages of the two skeletons were also determined. Dental evidence suggests that the right skeleton was a young adult or subadult, estimated to be 19–22 years old, as it had third molars (wisdom teeth) that had recently grown in. Its skull was less developed, consistent with its young age. The left skeleton was estimated to be an older adult, aged 30–35 years old. Its skull was fully developed, and its cranium showed male characteristics.

Controversy

Some researchers criticize the attention-grabbing focus on the Hasanlu Lovers as an example of challenging traditional views on relationships. The two skeletons received the nickname "Hasanlu Lovers" because they were found in a close, touching position. Before DNA testing, one skeleton was thought to be male and the other female. Oscar Muscarella, who led excavations at Hasanlu in the 1960s, said, "I knew at first sight who was the female," referring to the two skeletons. However, a team from the University of Pennsylvania believed the right skeleton was likely male based on its bone structure. The left skeleton had unclear bone features, but DNA testing later confirmed it was male. One author notes that determining biological sex from bones can sometimes be uncertain, and these tests do not provide information about culturally defined gender roles.

Some people expect the skeletons to represent a traditional relationship, as explained by Killgrove and Geller, because modern society is influenced by cultural ideas about relationships. Geller explains that applying modern assumptions about sex, gender, and sexuality to ancient remains can be misleading. The actual relationship between the two skeletons is unknown and remains a guess, even though their close position might suggest a connection.