Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the 'Plain of Jars' site 1 in Laos

The date and significance of the megalithic jar sites of central Laos are comparatively poorly understood features of the Southeast Asian archaeological landscape. First explored systematically in the 1930s, only limited research on these sites has been undertaken since. This article presents the recent excavations at Ban Ang--or site 1--a megalithic jar site of nearly 400 jars, located in Xieng Khouang Province. The results confirm the findings of earlier research, but additionally reveal a range of mortuary practices, high rates of infant and child mortality, and new evidence dating these interments to the ninth to thirteenth centuries AD. Keywords: Southeast Asia, Laos, Plain of Jars, megaliths, mortuary archaeology
Introduction The megalithic jar sites of northern Laos, comprising groups of large, hollowed, oblong stone vessels, boulders and carved discs, have long inspired fascination (Figure 1). The 'Plain of Jars'--a [...]