The mystery of the 'Plain of Jars': clues to ancient Giants?
Thousands of huge giant stone jars are scattered across the Khouang Xien plain in Laos, forming one of the most bizarre and enigmatic archaeological collections on the planet, with formations ranging from a single jar to groupings of several hundred.
Often referred to as Southeast Asia's version of Stonehenge, the Plain of Jars has fascinated and puzzled archaeologists and scientists since its discovery in 1930. The Plain of Jars is one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries as little research has been conducted on site, due to conflicts in the region. Today the area of the megalithic vases is still littered with unexploded ordnance.
Between 1953 and 1973, a conflict was fought in Laos involving various factions of the Lao aristocracy, who had been competing for control of power since the end of the 17th century. The conflict was also known as the Secret War, due to the role played by the United States, forced to act in the shadows in Laos after the 1954 Geneva Conference sanctioned its independence and declared its neutrality in the nearby Vietnamese conflict. During the conflict the US Air Force dropped more than 2 million tons of cluster bombs on Laotian territory (many of which remained unexploded), the largest series of bombings since World War II.
While much of the Plain of Jars' recent history is known, the site's distant past remains an enigma to archaeologists.
Investigations on the Plain began in 1930. Archaeologists at that time believed that the enormous megalithic vases were associated with prehistoric burial practices, a hypothesis that was later strengthened when a group of Japanese archaeologists found human remains and burial objects around the stone's jars.
The Plain is thought to date back to 500 BC, making it an interesting site for the study of prehistory in Southeast Asia. At least 90 groupings have been identified, with the number of jars in each group ranging from a single jar up to 400 units.
The jars vary in height and diameter, with dimensions between 1 and 3 meters, all of them carved directly into the rock. Most jars have a stone's lid, suggesting that all vases must have had one. Jars are not decorated, with the exception of a single find identified at site number 1. This vase features an anthropomorphic bas-relief which has been defined as 'Frog Man'.
The researchers saw a parallel with cave paintings from Huashan Rock, Guangxi, China. The drawings, dating between 500 BC and 200 BC, represent large human beings with raised arms and bent knees.
The jars were carved from various rock materials, such as sandstone, granite and limestone. Most sandstone vessels were produced with a very advanced modeling technique, but still compatible with Iron Age knowledge. However, the enigma of modeling granite remains, a material notoriously very difficult to work with and practically impossible to shape with an iron chisel.
Scientific hypotheses and legends
Most archaeologists believe that the Plain of Jars was created and used as a burial place, especially due to the findings of human bodies around vases and various funerary furnishings.
According to the hypothesis of Professor Eiji Nitta who conducted the investigations in 1993, the jars are nothing more than a symbolic funerary monument to mark the surrounding burials.
Archaeologist Julie Van Den Bergh also believes that the Plain of Jars was a site used for funerary practices. But, unlike Nitta, Van Den Bergh believes that the jars could have served as 'dehydration vessels' for the corpses. Only later were they buried around them.
But not everyone agrees with this hypothesis. Why did ancients create stone vases so elaborate that require so many hours of work? And how to explain such a sophisticated manufacturing technique? Some researchers believe that the stone vessels are much older and that they served as storage for food or other materials. Only severals centuries later were the jars reused by local populations as funerary tools. But ... there is no confirmation of this hypothesis.
Another possible explanation is that the jars were used to collect monsoon rainwater to quench the thirst of the caravans of travelers along their journey. Since in those areas the rains are only seasonal, the jars represented a precious reserve of water readily available on the commercial paths. Caravans camped around the jars over time may have placed votive objects as offerings, accompanying them with prayers for rain.
Furthermore, according to the legends handed down by the populations of Laos, a race of giants inhabited the area and was governed by a king called Khun Cheung. Following a victory obtained in battle against his bitter enemy, Khun Cheung ordered the creation of jars to produce enormous quantities of 'lau hai' ('lau' means alcohol, presumably 'rice beer') and worthily celebrate his victory.
Another local tradition says that the jars were modeled using natural materials such as clay, sand, sugar and products of animal origin, in a sort of mouldable 'cement'.
The current situation
The Lao government is considering applying 'UNESCO World Heritage' status to the Giara Plain, to facilitate the raising of funding for demining the area.
The large quantity of unexploded bombs, especially cluster bombs, severely limits the free movement of researchers and tourists. Currently, when visiting the site, it is mandatory to walk only on a safe route indicated by the curators of the archaeological area.
