The death jar: a new mortuary tradition at the Plain of Jars, Lao PDR

Excavation of a massive stone jar at Site 75 in the Plain of Jars, Laos, reveals it to be part of a collective mortuary tradition involving secondary interments. The discovery of at least 37 disarticulated individuals suggests the jars played a role in a complex funerary sequence, with radiocarbon dating indicating prolonged use between approximately AD 890–1160. This period coincides with increased regional interaction and mobility in Southeast Asia, offering new insights into the cultural and social dynamics of the time.

Skopal, N., Pradier, B., Bounxayhip, S., Cooper, C., Dussubieux, L., Devantier-Thomas, T. G., Pilgrim, T., Van Berkel, S., Demko, D., Valentin, F., Skopal, J., Baker, D., Florin, S. A., Posth, C., & Clark, G. (2026). The death jar: a new mortuary tradition at the Plain of Jars, Lao PDR. Antiquity, 100(412), 1050–1067. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10352