This centuries-long burial practice reveals deeper layers of ritual, useful context for a colleague or friend following ancient Southeast Asian cultures.
37 Skeletons Found in Laos' Death Jar Story flow and key facts
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of at least 37 individuals inside a single large stone jar on the Plain of Jars in Laos, offering new clues about a centuries-old funerary mystery. The site, which contains thousands of megalithic jars scattered across the landscape, has long been thought to be linked to Iron Age burial practices, but evidence was limited until now. This latest discovery, made in one of the largest and most remote jars, includes femurs, skulls, and teeth from both children and adults, with radiocarbon dating placing the remains between the 9th and 12th centuries C.E.
The findings challenge earlier assumptions that the jars were primarily from the Iron Age, suggesting instead a medieval cultural tradition. Researchers propose that bodies may have been stored in smaller jars to decompose before being transferred to larger communal containers like this one. The undisturbed nature of the remains may be due to the site’s remote location, avoiding the looting that affected more accessible areas.
Inside the same jar, archaeologists also found artifacts such as glass beads, a copper-based bell, and earthenware, some of which chemical analysis traced to India and Mesopotamia. This indicates that the ancient community in Laos was part of a broader trade network. Ongoing DNA testing may reveal familial relationships among the remains and further clarify the social structure of the people who used these jars. The Plain of Jars is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and while this discovery sheds light on its use, the full meaning and spread of the practice remain unclear.
Facts
- Archaeologists found remains of at least 37 people, including children, inside a single large stone jar on the Plain of Jars in Laos.
- Radiocarbon dating shows the remains were added between the 9th and 12th centuries C.E., later than previously assumed for the site.
- Artifacts such as glass beads and a copper bell found in the jar originated from India and Mesopotamia, indicating long-distance trade connections.
- Researchers hypothesize bodies were first decomposed in smaller jars before being moved to larger communal containers.
- The Plain of Jars is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and this is the first jar with irrefutable evidence of mortuary use.
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