A new study conducted on 7,000-year-old skeletons found in Germany has suggested that the male bodies were possibly killed for love.

The 34 skeletons were discovered in the 1980s, but UK's Durham University scientists conducted new studies on different atom types (isotopes) in their teeth and found that one of the burial groups only included men and children.

All the bodies were hit on the left side of the head and scientists believe they were possibly killed by a man who wanted to steal their women.

Scientists concluded the absence of local females indicated that they had probably been captured, the BBC reported.

"It seems this community was specifically targeted, as could happen in a cycle of revenge between rival groups,” said Dr Alex Bentley, from Durham University's Anthropology Department.

"Our analysis points to the local women being regarded as somehow special and were therefore kept alive. It's crucial for a group which has a very small population to have access to mates,” he concluded.

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