Laos' Giant Jars Unveil Multigenerational Burials and Hidden Trade Links
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.