description Plain of Jars Overview
The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Xieng Khouang province, Laos, containing thousands of carved stone jars distributed across numerous sites. The jars date from approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE and are believed to have been used in Iron Age funerary practices. The area was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War era, and unexploded ordnance continues to pose hazards, limiting archaeological investigation in certain zones.
help Plain of Jars FAQ
How old are the jars in the Plain of Jars?
The jars generally date from approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE. That places the landscape in the Iron Age of mainland Southeast Asia.
Why were the stone jars in Laos made?
Archaeologists generally connect the jars with Iron Age funerary practices, including the treatment of human remains. Their exact meaning is not fully settled, so claims that they were simply storage containers are too narrow.
Where are the main Plain of Jars sites?
The landscape is in Xieng Khouang Province in Laos and contains thousands of carved stone jars across numerous sites. UNESCO inscribed the Plain of Jars as a World Heritage property in 2019.
Is the Plain of Jars safe to visit?
Visitors should stay on marked paths because parts of Xieng Khouang still contain unexploded ordnance left by 20th-century conflicts in Laos. The principal tourist sites have marked routes and clearance work, but wandering off route is unsafe.
explore Explore More
Similar to Plain of Jars
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
