Plain of Jars, Archaeological site with megalithic jars in Xiangkhouang Province, Laos
The Plain of Jars is an archaeological site with megalithic stone containers in Xiangkhouang Province, stretching across multiple hills and valleys. Each location shows different concentrations of these sandstone vessels, with some standing upright and others toppled over in the grass.
Archaeologists date the creation of these stone vessels to between 500 BCE and 500 CE and connect them to Iron Age burial rites. Later conflicts in the 20th century left bomb craters in the surrounding area and led to the destruction of some containers.
Local tradition speaks of giants who crafted the stone containers, and travelers today walk among groups of varying sizes arranged across open grassland. Communities in the region maintain stories about these monuments and pass them down through generations.
Most travelers reach the site from Phonsavan, with the first location offering the easiest access and receiving the most foot traffic. Paths between the containers are uneven, so sturdy footwear helps when walking across the open terrain.
Some containers show engravings on their rims, whose meaning remains unclear today and continues to raise research questions. The lids that originally sealed these vessels are almost entirely missing and may have been reused for other purposes.
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