Embrace in stone: ancient DNA confirms Poland's first medieval same-sex burial
DNA analysis of two 800-year-old skeletons from Opole Cathedral reveals both were female and not closely related, marking Poland's first genetically confirmed medieval same-sex double burial; their intertwined graves suggest simultaneous interment and raise questions about their relationship, with researchers noting that social bonds beyond marriage—perhaps kinship or shared life—could explain the burial while future studies may show whether such cases were rare or part of a broader pattern.