Laos' Giant Jars Unveil Multigenerational Burials and Hidden Trade Links
TL;DR Summary
Excavation of a large stone jar at Site 75 on Laos’ Plain of Jars uncovered the remains of about 37 individuals, dating to 9th–12th centuries, indicating secondary interment and multigenerational mortuary use rather than a single burial. The find included grave goods such as beads from South India and Mesopotamia, suggesting long-distance trading connections; some remains show signs of cremation. The research proposes that smaller jars housed initial decomposition before bones were moved to larger jars, hinting at a lifecycle of mortuary rites across generations, though researchers caution that practices varied locally across Laos.
- Archaeologists Excavated a Giant Stone Jar And Found a Grim Surprise ScienceAlert
- Bones Of 37 People Found In A Giant Stone Jar Points To A Mysterious Burial Ritual In The Jungle IFLScience
- Massive jar in Laos contained remains of 37 people, revealing ancient burial rituals and Asian trade links Archaeology News Online Magazine
- Mystery of the ancient giant stone jars of Laos may have been solved New Scientist
- The death jar: a new mortuary tradition at the Plain of Jars, Lao PDR Cambridge University Press & Assessment
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