Recent discoveries at the Plain of Jars in Laos have challenged our understanding of this ancient site, where at least 37 bodies have been unearthed from gigantic stone jars.

Spanning the remote Xieng Khouang Plateau, these enormous stone pots, some reaching heights of 3 meters and weighing several tons, have long been suspected to be linked to ancient burial practices.

Historical legends suggest that these jars were created for giants who brewed rice wine, according to Nick Skopal from James Cook University, Australia.

Findings from the 1930s hinted at a connection to the Iron Age (circa 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.), proposing that the jars may have played a role in cremation or the disposal of human remains. More recent studies have uncovered glass beads, burial artifacts, and cremated remains.

Recently, Skopal and his team excavated a jar measuring over 1.3 meters high and 2 meters wide near the town of Phonsavan, revealing the bones of 19 individuals, with teeth belonging to 37 people.

Radiocarbon dating indicates the remains date from the 9th to the 12th century AD, suggesting multiple burial events.

The arrangement of the bones indicates careful packing, with larger bones organized at the ends and many smaller bones likely missing due to decomposition.

This breakthrough is a key finding, as noted by Nigel Chan, also from James Cook University, who was not involved in the study. “This is the first investigation showing a definitive link to mortuary practices over the past century,” he stated.

Close to the larger jar were several smaller pots containing glass beads, suggesting a two-step burial process: initial storage in smaller jars followed by a transfer to the larger jars post-decomposition.

“Could these stone pots be part of rituals to honor ancestors or release their souls?” Skopal inquires. “DNA testing on the remains will reveal familial connections among these individuals.”

While the samples indicate when the jars were used, they do not ascertain the age of the jars themselves.

“Evidence indicates a significant activity around this site during the latter half of the first millennium AD,” Chan adds, while speculating that the jars may actually date back over 2000 years.

Although determining the jars’ age is challenging, Skopal noted their artifact dating aligns with the remains, supporting the theory that the jars were used for multiple generations. “The shift from an Iron Age context to a medieval cultural practice is becoming evident,” he states.

According to Skopal, this practice has deep roots in ancestor worship, passed down through generations. However, variations exist among Laotian stone jars, with different customs observed across regions, such as upright jars in some areas and flat ones in others.

“It’s likely these jars were utilized by various cultural groups over extended periods,” suggests Tiatoshi Jamil of Nagaland University, India.

The excavation team also uncovered iron tools, pottery, copper bells, and glass beads inside the jars, revealing trade connections as far as southern India and Mesopotamia.

This is not surprising, as around 1000 AD was a flourishing time in East and Southeast Asia, highlighted by the Song Dynasty, Khmer Empire, and the pagan kingdoms of present-day Myanmar.

Marco Mitri is investigating similar stone jars at North Eastern Hill University in India. Archaeological findings in Northeast India indicate diverse cultural practices that resonate with these traditions.

Mitri theorizes that various Austro-Asian communities have practiced these funerary rituals for centuries, with modern parallels seen in groups like the Khasis in India, who still use stone boxes called cysts for bone deposits following cremation.

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