Study Finds Human Remains in Laos Stone Jar

A new study reports human remains inside one stone jar at the Plain of Jars site in northern Laos. The site contains large stone containers scattered across the uplands of Xiangkhoang Province. Some jars weigh several tonnes. Radiocarbon dating of bone and tooth samples from the jar placed the remains between the 9th and 12th centuries CE.

Deposits occurred over roughly 270 years rather than at a single time. Researchers concluded the jar was used repeatedly for secondary burial rites.

Bodies were first left to decompose elsewhere before selected bones were placed in the jar. Glass beads recovered from the jar originated from South India and Mesopotamia. The beads indicate trade networks connected the Laotian highlands with distant regions during the same period.

The jar and its contents remained largely undisturbed, allowing detailed documentation of burial practices. It is not yet known whether all jars at the site served the same function. Further excavations are needed to determine if the practice was widespread or limited to this location.

The question of who created the stone vessels and how they were transported into the mountainous landscape remains open. Ancient DNA analysis is listed as a major next step in the project.