The Mysterious Plain of Jars in Laos

August 02, 2016

Laos is one of the places on my bucket list. And I can hardly contain my excitement to be visiting the next stop on the journey. Plain of Jars is an apt title. A past age has left thousands upon thousands of jars scattered throughout the plains of Xieng Khouang. And no one knows exactly how or why.

The Theories of Origin

What I find most interesting about these jars is that their age has shrouded their origin in mystery. Who created them and what were they used for? UNESCO supports the theory that they were burial urns. This is because researchers have discovered bones in a few of the jars. While their lids, made of wood, have since disintegrated. Some archaeologists believe that ancient inhabitants placed the bodies of the deceased inside the jars before cremating them.

Plain-of-Jars in Laos

However, locals don’t agree with this theory. According to Laos legend, giants used to occupy the plains of Xieng Khouang. And they made these huge jars in order to brew rice wine and beer.

Some researchers hold a more mundane theory. This theory holds that traders used the jars during monsoon season to stock up on water. They would then boil it to make it drinkable. This was to help them continue on their journey.

Plain of Jars Site 1

The site that I visited was about forty-minutes from town.  And it happened to be the largest one. I make my way along the marked path. Apparently, it can dangerous to veer off course as the country still has unexploded ordnance. Scattered everywhere are large jars as far as the eye can see. And I look inside many of them not sure what I will find. Many still contain water from the monsoon season. But I opt for the giant legend. One of the jars is so huge it towers several feet over my head. I am told by the guide it weighs nearly 4 tons.

We visit a cave nearby. Inside is a memorial to troops who died in the cave during the war. The walls show signs of bombing and the smell of incense fills the chamber. Locals come to pray for their lost ancestors and the Vietnamese allies.

The views from the top of the hill are exquisite and like nothing I have seen before. Although it somewhat reminds me of Stonehenge in England. This area survived carpet bombings throughout various wars. It is a right miracle that there are so many of these beauties left.