Preliminary site report of a stone jar burial in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

A groundbreaking discovery at the Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang, Lao People's Democratic Republic, provides the first substantial evidence that stone jars were used as burial sites for primary or secondary burials between the 9th and 12th centuries CE. This challenges long-standing debates about their purpose, which had previously been limited to symbolic monuments or receptacles without conclusive human remains. The study, conducted through archaeological excavations, reveals a rare case of substantive human burials within these jars, offering new insights into the mortuary practices of the Southeast Asian Iron Age (500 BCE–500 CE) and subsequent ritual activities extending into the 13th century.

Skopal, N., Bounxaythip, S., Cooper, C., Pradier, B., Pilgrim, T., Stewart, T., Florin, A., Devantier-Thomas, T., Baker, D., & Philip, S. (2024). Preliminary site report of a stone jar burial in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Archaeological Research in Asia, 38, 100517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2024.100517