In a Bronze Age grave overlooking Siberia’s Baikal lake, archaeologists uncovered the remains of an elderly couple who had held hands for the last five thousand years.

Believed to be an ancient dignitary and his wife or lover, the skeletons were adorned with unusual rings made of rare white jade, one of which was placed above the man’s eye socket.

The couple is thought to belong to the ancient Bronze Age ‘Glazkov Culture’ that thrived around Baikal, the world’s oldest and deepest lake.

The discovery holds a captivating element as Russia scientists have yet to reveal details about a ‘metal implement’ found inside a leather pouch placed between the man’s kneecaps.

Three jade rings were found placed on the man’s chest, and a 20-inch jade dagger, crafted from the same rare stone, was unearthed within the grave. Archaeologist Dr. Dmitry Kichigin from Irkutsk National Research Technical University noted that the rings were somehow connected to the pair’s ‘ideas about the afterlife.’

“In the grave, we found male and female skeletons, lying on their backs, heads to the west, hand in hand,” he mentioned. “It would be very interesting to find out the purposes of the massive jade knife, which we found near the woman, was used for.”

The archaeologists also discovered a metal implement in a small leather bag between the male’s kneecaps, adding to the intrigue surrounding the couple’s burial.

Pendants made from red deer and musk deer teeth adorned the man’s skull and feet, likely used for decorating his hat and footwear.

While the male skeleton remains intact, the upper part of the female has been destroyed by rodents. Close to the woman lay a ‘massive’ knife made of jade, measuring 13 centimeters in length and 7 cm in width.

Dr. Kichigin speculated that the couple could have been ‘an owner and his concubine.’ The burial site near the lake is considered a ‘sacred place for ancient people,’ where Neolithic remains have also been discovered. To prevent potential looting, the exact location is being kept secret.