A Giant Stone Jar in Laos Held the Remains of 37 People—Solving a Century‑Old Mystery

For decades, the giant stone vessels scattered across northern Laos’s Plain of Jars have puzzled archaeologists. Thousands of these massive hollowed jars sit across the Xieng Khouang Plateau, but their exact purpose remained uncertain.

A recent excavation of a single jar at Site 75 has now delivered some of the strongest evidence yet about how they were used. Inside one exceptionally large vessel, researchers discovered a dense deposit of human bones and teeth belonging to at least 37 individuals, along with artifacts such as glass beads.

The discovery reveals that the jar functioned as a collective burial container used repeatedly over centuries, helping resolve one of Southeast Asia’s most enduring archaeological mysteries.

A Jar Filled With Human Remains

The jar excavated at Site 75 measures more than two meters across and contained a tightly packed assemblage of fragmented skeletal material.

Analysis of the bones and teeth showed they represented a minimum of 37 people, including both children and adults.

Researchers also identified associated artifacts such as imported glass beads and other cultural materials, suggesting the burial deposits were part of ritual activity rather than accidental accumulation.

The sheer quantity of remains surprised archaeologists because substantial human burials had rarely been found directly inside the stone jars before.

Dating the Burials: 9th–12th Century CE

Radiocarbon dating of bone and tooth samples revealed that the remains were deposited between roughly the 9th and 12th centuries CE, with some dates clustering between about A.D. 890 and 1160.

Evidence suggests the jar was used repeatedly over a long period—possibly up to about 270 years.

This means the remains were not placed inside all at once. Instead, the jar served as a burial location visited multiple times across generations.

Evidence of Secondary Burial Practices

One of the most important clues comes from the condition of the bones themselves.

Rather than intact skeletons, the remains were disarticulated—separated bones from different parts of the body.

This pattern strongly indicates secondary burial, a practice where:

• A body is initially placed elsewhere to decompose.
• After decomposition, selected bones are collected.
• Those bones are then reburied in a final ceremonial location.

Archaeologists also observed patterns in how the bones were arranged, including skulls positioned around the jar’s edges and limb bones grouped together.

Such arrangements reinforce the idea that the jar was used as a carefully organized mortuary space rather than a simple dumping site.

A Multigenerational Communal Tomb

Because the jar contains remains from dozens of individuals deposited over centuries, researchers believe it functioned as a communal burial place for an extended community or family group.

The repeated use suggests ongoing ritual activity tied to ancestor veneration or collective remembrance, with communities returning to the jar across generations to deposit remains.

In this sense, the jar likely served as a shared ceremonial focal point within the broader megalithic landscape.

Solving the Plain of Jars Mystery

The Plain of Jars has long fascinated archaeologists. The region contains more than 2,000 massive stone jars spread across over 100 sites, but their purpose has been debated for decades.

Some earlier theories suggested the jars stored food, water, or trade goods. Others proposed funerary uses but lacked direct proof.

The discovery of dozens of human remains inside a single jar now provides some of the clearest evidence that at least some of these vessels served mortuary functions.

Reuse of an Ancient Landscape

Interestingly, the stone jars themselves are likely much older than the medieval burials discovered inside them.

That suggests later communities encountered an already ancient megalithic landscape and reused the jars for burial rituals centuries after they were created.

Researchers note that ritual activity at jar sites appears to have continued into the 13th century CE, a period when cultural and religious changes—including the spread of Buddhism in the region—were occurring.

However, archaeologists emphasize that any connection between the jar burials and Buddhist practices remains speculative and requires further evidence.

Why the Discovery Matters

The excavation at Site 75 represents one of the most informative discoveries yet from the Plain of Jars. By revealing a jar filled with the remains of dozens of people, it provides:

• Direct proof that some jars functioned as mortuary containers
• Clear evidence of secondary burial traditions in the region
• Insight into multigenerational burial rituals and community identity

Together, these findings bring researchers closer to understanding one of Southeast Asia’s most enigmatic archaeological landscapes—and the people who returned to it for centuries to honor their dead.