Archaeologists in Laos have discovered the bone remains of at least 37 people inside a massive stone vessel in the Plain of Jars, shedding light on ancient funeral practices in Xieng Khouang province.
Thousands of giant stone structures are scattered across the region, with some measuring up to three meters in height and weighing several tons. A study published in the journal Antiquity indicates these containers were part of a complex burial system used across generations, rather than simple storage units or decorative features.
Researchers confirmed the skeletal remains did not belong to victims of a catastrophe or an improvised mass grave. Instead, the evidence points to secondary burial, a ritual where bodies were first left in the open air to decompose naturally.
Reusing ancient monuments
Once only bones remained, community members carefully moved them into the giant stone jars. Experts believe the vessels were repeatedly reopened to add new remains, operating as family or community mausoleums over prolonged periods.
Dating analyses revealed that the remains belong to individuals who lived between the 9th and 13th centuries. However, the monumental stone jars themselves are significantly older than the human bones found inside them.
Archaeologists concluded that medieval communities inherited the existing megalithic complex and repurposed it for their own funerary rituals. This cultural recycling allowed the Plain of Jars to retain its central ceremonial role across different eras.
