More mysterious jars of the dead unearthed in Laos

via the Australian National University, 15 May 2019: More new jar sites are found in Laos, enlarging the range where the jars are traditionally thought to be found. The other stories linked below are more sensational, but linking as a means of archiving.

ANU Archaeologists have discovered 15 new sites in Laos containing more than one hundred 1000-year-old massive stone jars possibly used for the dead.

The jars of Laos are one of archaeology’s enduring mysteries. Experts believe they were related to disposal of the dead, but nothing is known about the jars’ original purpose and the people who brought them there.

The new finds show the distribution of the jars was more widespread than previously thought and could unlock the secrets surrounding their origin.

The sites, deep in remote and mountainous forest and containing 137 jars, were identified by ANU PhD student Nicholas Skopal with officials from the Lao government.

Source: More mysterious jars of the dead unearthed in Laos – ANU

See also

• ‘Jars of the DEAD’ mystery as 137 huge ancient pots made for ‘rotting corpses’ found in remote Asian mountains – and locals think they were left by GIANTS | The Sun, 16 May 2019
• More Mysterious ‘Jars of The Dead’ Have Been Discovered in Laos | Science Alert, 17 May 2019