Two male remains holding hands lie underground in central London.

TPO – Road diggers in London (England) have found the remains of two male victims who died during the Black Death epidemic (15th century). The two victims lay parallel but face to face, holding hands for more than 6 centuries.

According to Daily Mail , these two sets of remains were discovered not long ago under the road in downtown London when workers were digging to build a tunnel.

The two victims died in their 40s from the bubonic plague – one of the epidemics that swept London after an outbreak in 1348. They were buried in the same cemetery as about 50,000 other victims in Smithfield, now central center of London and is the place exploited to build the Crossrail tunnel.

Here, archaeologists found the remains of many victims, but were especially interested in two male remains lying next to each other, face to face, holding hands.

Don Walker – a researcher at the London Museum of Archeology said: “This place was once a cemetery for the burial of victims of the plague. The disease spreads quickly and can kill many family members at the same time. 

During the Middle Ages, members of the same family were often buried together. Therefore, we believe that these two men are relatives.”

However, to prove this statement, scientists will have to conduct DNA tests on two sets of remains. “The two victims may have been placed in graves after death, not while holding hands. The older victim’s hand was placed on the other’s hand. If they are not relatives, they are most likely… lovers,” Mr. Walker said.