Laos Jar Reveals Remains of 37 People

Why this is here: Glass beads discovered inside the jar were chemically traced back to sources in South India and Mesopotamia, revealing previously unknown trade links between these regions and northern Laos.

Archaeologists in Laos uncovered a large, 1,200-year-old jar containing the remains of at least 37 individuals. The discovery occurred within the mysterious Plain of Jars, a plateau in Xieng Khouang province known for its massive stone vessels. Researchers from James Cook University and the Lao Department of Heritage excavated a jar measuring 1.3 meters tall and over 2 meters wide.

Inside, they found densely packed human bones dating from roughly 890 to 1160 AD. Analysis suggests the jar served as a secondary burial site, where remains were deposited after initial decomposition elsewhere. The team also found glass beads originating from South India and Mesopotamia, indicating trade connections across Asia.

This find challenges earlier ideas about the jars’ purpose, as prior theories suggested they dated to the Iron Age. Determining the relationships between the individuals remains a task for future DNA analysis. The work at the Plain of Jars continues to expand understanding of the region’s past.