Lovers posed hugging each other were unearthed in a tomb in Datong, Shanxi province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Experts have completed their study of an ancient tomb featuring lovers posed hugging each other, the Datong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology said recently.

The tomb was unearthed at a construction site in Datong, Shanxi province, last year.

Experts from the institute, in collaboration with others at Jilin University, Xiamen University and the Texas A&M University, launched a joint research effort.

The tomb dates to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). The male occupant was found with his arms wrapped around the female's waist, while the female nestled against his chest with her head on his shoulder.

A silver ring was found on the female tomb occupant's left hand. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Archaeologists also found a silver ring on the female's left hand.

Through the analysis of the bones, researchers judged that the male died between 29 and 35 years of age, while the female died between 35 and 40, according to Hou Xiaogang, deputy director of the institute.

Further skeletal analysis revealed an unhealed fracture in an infected bone of the male's right arm. The bones of the female appeared to be healthy.

The cause of their deaths is unknown.