Researchers Renew Efforts to Solve the Puzzling Plain of Jars Site

Although there is still a long way to go, researchers have found new information on the mysterious Plain of Jars site located in the central Lao province of Xieng Khouang. Human remains dating to the Iron Age, between 2500-3000 years ago, have been unearthed. These and other artifacts are beginning to shed new light on ancient mortuary practices at the site.

Archaeology reports that there were three types of burials found during the excavations. Some individuals were buried whole, other burials were bundled bones, and still more were bones found placed in ceramic vessels. According to Shanghai Daily, the remains were spread out as well, with the first two individuals found 70 cm (27.6 inches) underground and a third discovered about 13 meters (42.7 feet) away.

“With our research, because we’ve been able to uncover a fair amount of human bone—we’ve got seven burials and four probable burials with ceramic jars—so a total of 11 mortuary contexts. We’re hoping we’ll be able to get some really good information about the people,” said Dougald O’Reilly of Australian National University.