The jar sites Plain of Jars

plain of jars – jar lid

stone discs have been found. discs, differ lids, have @ least 1 flat side , grave markers placed on surface cover or mark burial pit. these grave markers appear more infrequently jars, found in close proximity. similar stone grave markers; these stones unworked, have been placed intentionally mark grave. north of xieng khouang extensive network of intentionally placed largely unworked stones marking elaborate burial pits , chambers known standing stones of huaphan . these have been dated bronze age.

the jars lie in clusters on lower footslopes , mountain ridges of hills surrounding central plateau , upland valleys. several quarry sites have been recorded, close jar sites. 5 rock types have been identified: sandstone, granite, conglomerate, limestone , breccia.

the majority of jars sandstone. assumed plain of jars people used iron chisels manufacture jars, although no conclusive evidence exists. regional differences in jar shape have been noted. while differences in cases can attributed choice , manipulation of rock source, differences in form (such variations in placement of jar apertures) appear unique specific sites.

a cave located @ site 1 natural limestone formation opening northwest , 2 man-made holes @ top. these holes thought chimneys crematorium. french geologist , amateur archaeologist madeleine colani excavated inside cave in 1930s , found material support crematorium theory. colani recorded , excavated @ 12 plain of jars sites , published 2 volumes findings in 1935. colani concluded plain of jars iron age burial site. inside jars found, embedded in black organic soil, coloured glass beads, burnt teeth , bone fragments, more 1 individual. around stone jars, found human bones, pottery fragments, iron , bronze objects, glass , stone beads, ceramic weights , charcoal. bone , teeth inside jars show signs of cremation, while burials surrounding jars yield unburnt secondary burial bones.

plain of jars – site one

no further archaeological research conducted until november 1994, when professor eiji nitta of kagoshima university , lao archaeologist thongsa sayavongkhamdy surveyed , mapped site 1. nitta claimed surrounding burial pits contemporaneous jars, had been cut surface on jars had been placed. nitta believed jars symbolic monument mark surrounding burials. dated plain of jars late second or first millennium b.c. based on burial urn , associated grave goods. sayavongkhamdy undertook surveys , excavations between 1994 , 1996, supported australian national university. sayavongkhamdy , peter bellwood interpreted stone jars central person s primary or secondary burial, surrounded secondary burials of family members. archaeological data collected during bomb clearance operations supervised unesco archaeologist julie van den bergh in 2004–2005 , again in 2007 provided similar archaeological results. nitta, van den bergh concluded jars , surrounding burials contemporaneous.

variations in practices of cremation inside jars , secondary burial outside jars, noted colani, have proven difficult explain. cremated remains seem belong adolescents. while bomb clearance operations did not involve emptying of jars , no additional evidence gathered, van den bergh claimed stone jars may have been used distil dead bodies , cremated remains within jars represent recent phase in plain of jars. jars smaller apertures may reflect diminishing need place entire body inside.

the suggestion jars, in similar fashion traditional southeast asian royal mortuary practices, functioned distilling vessels , put forward r. engelhardt , p. rogers in 2001. in contemporary funerary practices followed thai, cambodian , laotian royalty, corpse of deceased placed urn during stages of funeral rites, @ time soul of deceased believed undergoing gradual transformation earthly spiritual world. ritual decomposition later followed cremation , secondary burial.

incidentally, megalithic dravidians of south india used giant burial urns called mudhumakkal thazhi (burial-pots-of-the-old-people) or eemathazhi. these funerary urns buried bodies of deceased or soon-to-die in sitting posture, along personal goods , ornaments. practice in vogue until 200 ad.

the royal burials located across watercourses habitation areas in geographically high, prominent area. among black thai people have been in region @ least since 11th century, upper classes cremated in belief release spirits heaven, while commoners buried, leaving spirits remain on earth.

colani connected location of jars sites ancient trade routes, in particular salt trade. assumed salt commodity sought after plain of jars people, brought traders xieng khouang plateau. xieng khouang area rich in metallic minerals, due granite intrusions , associated hydrothermal activity.

two principal iron ore deposits exist in laos, both in xieng khouang. presence , locations of numerous jar sites in xieng khouang may relate trading , mining activities. history has shown xieng khouang, @ northern end of annamite range, provides relative easy passage north , east south , west.

within geographic setting of xieng khouang, jar sites may reflect network of intercultural villages, whereby locations of jars associated long-distance overland routes connect mekong basin , gulf of tonkin system. jar sites show superficial regional differences, such jar form, material, , number of jars per site. share common setting characteristics such burial practices, elevated locations, , commanding views on surrounding area.

the investigated , visited jar site located close town of phonsavan, , known site 1. 7 jar sites have been cleared of unexploded bombs , open visitors. these sites 1, 2 , 3, , site 16 near old capital xieng khouang; site 23, near big hot spring in muang kham; site 25 in largely unvisited phou kout district; , site 52, largest known jar site date 392 jars near traditional hmong village accessible foot.