Stone jugs. Mysterious Valley of Jars in Laos. Legends of the Valley of Jugs
In the center of Laos there is one of the most mysterious places on our planet - the Valley of Jugs. The valley itself would not be so remarkable if there were not hundreds of huge jars on its territory that were created by people thousands of years ago!
The Valley of Jugs is located in the Xianghuang region and consists of several clearings where such unusual jugs are located. Many such sites are scattered along the border of Laos and Vietnam in the lower reaches of the Annam Range. In total, there are over 60 such sites in Laos. In addition, areas similar to the Valley of Pitchers can be found in Thailand and northern India.
The mystery of the valley is also added by the fact that none of the scientists can reliably say which people or tribe built all these jugs and for what purpose! However, judging by the number of jars in the valley, and there are about a thousand of them, these vessels in the middle of an open field were extremely important...
There are not only a lot of jugs, but they also vary greatly in size. There are vessels up to three meters high and weighing more than six tons, and there are very small jugs. Most vessels are round in shape, but rectangular ones are also found.
There is still no exact information about the purpose of these jugs. Scientists theorize that they served ancient people as vessels for storing water. In addition, there are suggestions that the jugs could have been used as funeral vessels. Various household items and bronze jewelry were found in some jugs, which speaks in favor of the second theory. However, no remains were found in the jugs...
U local population There is a point of view on the question of the origin of the Valley of Jugs. People believe that giants once roamed this land, and they scattered their jugs throughout the clearings of Laos.
The average age of the jugs is estimated at 2 thousand years. The material from which the jugs are made is a mixture of sandstone, granite and coral. This is quite curious, since these “ingredients” are practically never found near the sites.
Only a few sections of the valley are open to tourists. The fact is that the Xianghuang region was once subjected to serious bombing by the US Air Force. Several decades have passed since then, but part of the territory is still littered with unexploded charges.
Due to the risk of detonation of old charges in some areas, tourist movement and archaeological research are very limited. Of course, all this negatively affects the development of tourism in the region. Gradually, dangerous areas are being cleared of charges, but the pace of work is not too high...
wikipedia.org/Sc147
On this moment Laotians are trying to get the status of an object for the Valley of Jars World Heritage UNESCO. Indeed, such a place is not only very unusual, but also of great interest to researchers. If the Valley of the Jars is cleared of unexploded shells, scientists will be able to fully study the jars and learn about their true purpose, and tourists will have full access to such interesting object!
There is a place in Laos called the Valley of the Jars. The name of the area was not given by chance. There are hundreds of stone...not stupas, not pools, not cisterns, but capacious ( for the most part) containers.
It would seem that what could be simpler than a stone container? Take a boulder, hollow out a cavity inside - and use it! But if the product is complex in shape, equipped with a lid like a saucepan, dug into the ground and has cyclopean dimensions - what is it? How was it used? Who needed it? When was it created?
There are no clear answers to these questions. Due to the impossibility of conducting full-scale archaeological excavations, the solution to the historical problem is postponed until the indefinite future.
War was raging in the Valley of Jugs...
Half a century ago, America fought with Vietnam, and Laos also suffered. The Laotian province bordering Vietnam, in which the Valley of the Jars is located, was subjected to massive bombing. Some of the dropped charges were mines that were armed when entering the ground. There are many unexploded aerial bombs and forgotten artillery shells in the valley.That is why archaeological research - and at the same time any tourist activities - are prohibited in the Valley of Jugs, and access to dangerous areas is closed. Meanwhile, stone containers with a similar structure, found here, as well as in Thailand and India, are very unusual and interesting.
In some places the ban is not particularly strict, and you can still see the legendary jugs!
Legends of the Valley of Jugs
The most poetic story seems to be that of the Miao people. It’s as if giants lived in these places several thousand years ago, and they went to the Valley of Jugs to dine. They were served food in large stone vessels; smaller containers were used as glasses.Those who do not believe in giants talk about caravans wandering around South-East Asia and those in need of long-term storage of food supplies and water. It’s as if these caravan workers chiseled both containers and lids out of stone - and used them for centuries.
Adherents of funeral ritual traditions (where any found artifact is considered an object of worship) talk about the use stone jars as either sarcophagi, or tombs, or containers for storing the ashes of rulers laid to rest by fire.
Tourists most like the version that tells about King Khung Trung, who decided to celebrate the victory in the next civil strife with a copious libation. Taking into account the large number of troops and the weak intoxicating ability of rice and millet mash, a lot of containers for preparing drinks were required!
True, in this case a huge army of stonemasons would have to be put to work chiseling stone. Where can you get so many qualified personnel and suitable tools? After all, iron was almost unknown at that time...
Local residents simplified the legend to a mere taboo. They say that evil caught among people was placed in jugs under heavy lids. Languishing in the trap, it was slowly absorbed into the stone. Therefore, children are not only prohibited from getting inside, but even touching the stone jugs!
A particularly exotic theory talks about placing stone jugs (or under their bottoms) and other treasures in the bodies.
The mysterious age of finds in the Valley of Jugs
Opinions vary regarding the moment when jugs are born. Most archaeologists are inclined to date the “ware” to the first millennium BC. Judging by the rate of erosion of the stone, the earliest stone jars saw the light of day in 800 BC; the latest - around the year 500. 
But who could spend three hundred years hewing and gouging out hundreds and hundreds of boulders, some of which weighed a good ten tons? And if unknown craftsmen made some kind of utilitarian containers, why did they often leave too thick a layer of stone? Excessively thick walls reduce the capacity of the vessel...
Anthropological finds also support the hypothesis about the ancient origin of stone jugs. Australian specialists working in the demined area of the Valley of Jugs discovered human remains. Radiocarbon dating gave the exact age of the bones - 2500 years.
Is the Valley of Jugs an ancient cemetery?
According to Australian scientists, the proximity of bones and jars is no coincidence. The bodies of the dead were placed several at a time in stone containers with lids. Rotting of tissues occurs with the release of heat; elevated temperatures accelerate the process of decomposition of the body. After a year or a year and a half, it was possible to remove clean bones from the jug and bury them separately, in a specially designated place.The pits filled with bones were covered with a massive gravestone, and the dead were not disturbed. While bones were being accumulated to fill the new pit, the remains were kept in one of the stone or ceramic jars.
However, simple calculations give stunning results that have little connection with reality. In the Valley of Jugs alone there are more than a thousand vessels of various sizes. Considering the “productivity” of the jars as sarcophagi, it should be assumed that this burial enterprise served a multimillion-dollar city. There are no traces of the existence of any large settlement near the Valley of Jugs!
Then the Valley of Jars is a warehouse?
Opponents of the funerary theory suggested that the stone jars, concentrated in relatively large groups, served as some kind of “bins of the homeland.” Indeed, grain in unsealed stone containers can be stored for a long time - if there is a way to protect the reserves from condensation moisture.There is no need to talk about storing water or wine in vessels. The warm climate of Laos will not allow the liquid to be preserved in a usable form.
History of exploration of the Valley of Jugs
The discovery of the Valley of Jugs was made by an official of the French administration of Laos in 1903. Fragmentary information about the outlandish find did not particularly excite the scientific community of Europe, and the first researcher, archaeologist Henri Parmentier, arrived in the Valley of Jugs only in 1923. 
Having found Bronze Age artifacts and fragments of human bones in and around the jars, Parmentier lost interest in the Valley and went home. Madeleine Colani, who replaced her compatriot in the scientific post, worked with great zeal.
Having suggested the existence of a forgotten civilization in these places, Madeleine released a two-volume review of her findings. The archaeological community got acquainted with the published materials, did not see a sensation in them - and the book was no longer reprinted, nor was it translated into other languages.
The resumption of research occurred at the very end of the twentieth century. The Japanese Nitta and the Laotian Tong-Sa found several burials in the Valley of Jars, and decorative images were found on one of the stone vessels.
In total, in the 115 years since the discovery of the Valley of Jugs, not a single mystery of the origin and use of stone containers has been solved, and the hypotheses expressed have remained unproven and unrefuted.
What is known about the stone containers from the Valley of Jugs?
The shapes of the jugs are very different. Products of cylindrical shape predominate. There are many jugs made with a cone. There are containers of almost regular geometry - prisms, pyramids with rounded ribs. Many vessels are made like real jugs - with a raised and narrowed neck. 
The height of stone products ranges from 30 cm to 3.5 m. The largest jug weighs about 10 tons. The mass of most large jugs fits into two tons.
A number of stone lids have been preserved for stone jugs. There is every reason to believe that previously each vessel was equipped with an individual lid. However, people directed most of them to perform more pressing tasks.
Some of the surviving lids are simple disks carved from stone. Some are real works of art, decorated with stylized carved images of people and animals.
The material for the jugs and lids was local natural stone. Here is a quote from a laboratory study report on a group of mason jars: “Both the untreated and polished containers are made of , . Some of the vessels have several types of rocks in their wall structure.”
Wherein we're talking about about the natural fusion, and not the artificial connection of different types of rocks. In addition, the examination refuted the working hypothesis about the possible production of jugs from artificial stone (concrete). The presence of artifacts (stone, bronze, iron plates) near the jars that could qualify as tools speaks in favor of the stonemason hypothesis of the origin of the vessels.
Is it true, local residents acquainted researchers with oral (and completely false) legends that reported the preparation of a plastic mass from boiled collagen, sugar syrup, and mineral fillers.
There is no more reliable information about stone jugs.
Valley of the Jugs: an equation of only variables
Future researchers of the Valley of Jars are faced with the following tasks:- find out who made hundreds of stone jars and why;
- lost covers (at least some);
- clarify the dating of the manufacture of each of the stone jugs;
- understand the technology of manufacturing massive vessels;
- find quarries and develop technology for transporting raw material blocks to the place where jugs are made.
Once again, extending our Thai visa, we decided to combine business with pleasure and visit even more outlandish and historical places in Laos.
One of these places is the city Phonsavan, aka Phonsavan, aka Phonsavan.
Our route passed through the cities: Luang Prabang - Phonsavan - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - 10 days ()
Travel time: May 2017
Travel duration: 3d/2n
How to get there: we traveled by bus from Luang Prabang - 95,000 LAK / person = 11 USD, 7-8 hours drive, you can also get there from Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
Visa to Laos: When visiting Laos for up to 15 days, Russian citizens do not require a visa.
Currency: 10000 LAK (Laotian kip) = 1USD, there are ATMs - withdrawal fee, depending on the bank - 20,000 LAK or 3% of the amount.
Our route around Phonsavan: Ban Napia War village, Plain of Jars site 3, Russian tank, Plain of Jars site 2, Plain of Jars site 3 Jars site 1), Old capital - Muang Khoun.
General information:
Phonsavan is located in the northeast of Laos and is the capital of Xiang Khouang province. It was built in the late 1970s, and replaced the old capital of Muang Khaun, which was destroyed during the Secret War ( Civil War in Laos 1960-1973, was fought between the government of the country, supported by the United States and South Vietnam, and the Pathet Lao guerrillas, who received assistance from North Vietnam and the USSR). More on this a little later.
Map
We went to Phonsavan by bus for (95000LAK/person = 11USD) from Luang Prabang. You can also go from Lung Prabang by minibus (it goes 1 hour faster), but we still preferred the bus. And we were convinced of our correct decision in the morning at the station, when the bus we were supposed to take had lying-down seats, although we bought tickets for a seated bus. As it turned out, this is a kind of bonus, because usually the buses are really seated.
So, the drive took about 7 hours. The road passes through the most beautiful mountain serpentines, with an incredible number of turns.
At the Phonsavan station, a group of 7 people, we immediately got into a minibus taxi (10000LAK/person = 1 USD) and went to the hotels.
We planned to stay in Phonsavan for 2 days. The cost of our guesthouse was 120000LAK – 14 USD for two. You can easily book a guest house/hotel for yourself from the Booking.COM website, but keep in mind that hotels in Phonsavan do not have air conditioning. Yes, they are not needed at all, we spent the night with the window open and it was not even hot. We recommend choosing hotels on the main street.
In general, I must say that it is quite cool here, especially in the morning and evening. In the afternoon after 12 it more or less warms up, so take sweaters with you. We went in May during the rainy season, but we were lucky and there was no rain and it was dry.
Upon arrival, we decided not to waste time and walk around the center of Phonsavan. It consists of one street along which the city center stretches along, so to speak. Here you will find cafes, hotels, motorbike rentals, travel agencies with excursions, and small shops. There are also ATMs.
The resourcefulness of the local population also attracts attention. At the entrances to cafes, and even in travel agencies, you can often see bomb casings and other remains of war relics. They also use all this in elements of fences, make interior decorations, flower vases, cutlery, and all sorts of things for the household in general.
At the moment, Phonsavan, roughly speaking, is divided into 2 halves - the center and new town which is actively under construction. A huge number of areas are filled and concreted.
Regarding excursions
Local travel agencies offer a range of excursions at once. These can be: 3 places with jars (Jars of site 1, 2,3) + Bomb craters + War village + Old capital + Hot springs (Small Hot spring, Big hot spring ) – in terms of time, this entire complex is designed for 1 day. 200000 LAK = 24 USD/per person. But since we didn’t want to visit all these places, and it was impossible to refuse additional attractions, we decided to rent a motorbike 70000 LAK = 8 USD/day and on the map in the MAPS ME application for Android and MAPS ME for iPhone (a very useful navigation application that has free cards and almost all outlandish places, even offline) to travel around all the places that interest us.
A little history
During the Secret War, the United States launched a massive bombing campaign against Laos. The territory of Phonsavan is one of the most affected by these “bombs”. Bombs were dropped on Laos for two reasons: 1) B east side country, through the mountains, just near Phonsavan, Laos took part in the so-called “Ho Chi Minh Trail”, where along this trail during the Vietnam War, North Vietnam transported troops and artillery to the territory of South Vietnam. 2) In some cases, due to bad weather conditions or due to other circumstances, the American Air Force, flying from Thai air bases, could not drop bombs on the “primary target”, and for a safe landing they were forced to drop bombs on Laotian territory.
The purpose of our visit to Phonsavan was to visit the legendary Valley of Jars, and with it places with echoes of war - Bomb craters and a village “with traces of war” (War village). The Valley of Jars is generally a group of sites (Plains of jars site 1,2,3...), where there are thousands of large stone pots. The pots range in size from half to three meters and are believed to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old. Since not all of the Valley of Jars has been cleared of mines at the moment, only a limited number of sites are open to the public. For the same reason, scientists and archaeologists still cannot give an exact answer as to why and who needed these jugs; archaeological research is difficult even now due to incomplete demining.
There are several legends of origin. The most common is that jars were associated with prehistoric burial practices. French scientist, geologist and amateur archaeologist Madeleine Colan excavated in the 1930s and found material to support the cremation theory. Colored glass beads, burnt teeth and bone fragments from more than one person were found inside some of the jars. Around the stone vessels, she discovered human bones, fragments of ceramics, iron and bronze objects. In 1935, Kolan concluded that the Valley of Jars was nothing more than an Iron Age burial ground. Other scientists who excavated the Valleys of Jars also do not rule out the fact that the jars were used to store food, various substances, as well as rainwater, to supply trade caravans.
Our route
Our route was as follows, we decided to start from the farthest attraction and the remaining points along the road: Ban Napia War village, Plain of Jars site No. 3, Russian tank, Valley of Jugs site No. 2 (Plain of Jars site 2), Valley of Jars site No. 1 (Plain of Jars site 1), Old capital Muang Khoun. This journey took us approximately 5 hours.
Map
A - Military village (Ban Napia War village, coordinates 19.279983, 103.099809)
B - Valley of Jars Site No. 3 (Plain of Jars Site 3, coordinates 19.298778, 103.147874)
WITH - Russian tank (Russian tank, coordinates 19.325994, 103.142724)
D - Valley of Jars Site No. 2 (Plain of Jars Site 2, coordinates 19.319349, 103.153728)
E - Valley of Jars Site No. 1 (Plain of Jars Site 1, coordinates 19.430427, 103.155120)
F - Old capital Muang Khoun (Old capital - Muang Khoun, coordinates 19.326312, 103.374717)
G - Phonsavan (Phonsavan, coordinates 19.452173, 103.186220)
Military village(Ban Napia War village)
The military village (Ban Napia War village) is our first place on the map. The path there initially ran along the highway, after which there was an exit onto a dirt road along the villages. There is also a sign for "War village".
What is it like? Admission is, of course, free; at the entrance to the village there is a meltdown of unexploded bombs in homemade furnaces. Locals also sell souvenirs here, from metal badges to cutlery.
Throughout the village as a whole you can see fences made of bombs and all sorts of crafts in the courtyards of houses.
There was also a museum of shells left over from the Secret War. But by the time we arrived, it had apparently already stopped working, since the sign was hanging, and the building itself was abandoned. After inspection we moved on.
Valley of Jugs site No. 3 (Jars of site 3)
So, the long-awaited Valley of Jugs. At the entrance to the “Valley” there is a ticket office, the cost of entry is symbolic - 10000 LAK – 1 USD/per person. Along the path to the “Jugs” there are rice seedlings, water meadows and here and there herds of cows. Also along the way you will be able to see concrete signs with the inscription “M.A.G” (Mine Action Company of America, Mines Advisory Group). If these signs are there, there is nothing to be afraid of - there are no mines nearby.
Jugs. The site itself is not equipped, it is only slightly fenced off from cattle, although the cattle, namely the cows, did not need this fence. There are about 40-50 jugs themselves on this site (Jars of site 3), and they are all really different. They are cylindrical in shape, but differ in appearance from each other, their size varies from 0.5 to - 3 meters. Somewhere the jugs are broken, somewhere they lie. In general, a person can fit into some jugs at full height. Mysterious and unusual.
We spent about 30 minutes exploring and moved on.
Russian tank
On the road from the area with jugs No. 3 to the area with jugs No. 2 there is a tank from the time of that very Secret War. On the map it is marked close to the main road, but it is not visible from the road itself - you need to go down on foot. The territory is fenced, again, with a symbolic fence, in which the gate is always open. And here is the tank itself. It lies upside down, the body is separate from the turret. The most surprising thing is that in such a poor area these remains of the tank were still preserved, and in fairly good condition. The only thing was that the tracks on the hull were missing. Well done Laotians! - in a word.
I would like to note that the roads here are in fairly good condition and it’s quite comfortable to ride a bike while admiring the local nature.
Valley jugsNo. 2 (Jars of site 2)
The cash register, the cafe, the M.A.G. demining sign, and the whole situation in the area is generally the same as at the 3rd site. Passage cost 10000 LAK = 1 USD/per person. In general, I think that when the person at the cash register ends his working day, you can go here without a ticket, since the places are not guarded by absolutely anyone.
The jars themselves on this site are located in two places, and there are no longer those same seedlings with rice and other rural activities. More and more outlandish. There are 2 staircases leading to the jugs. The first one is on the left and goes into the forest. The nature in the forest is untouched and pure. The view is mesmerizing.
And the jugs here and there are of different sizes and in different positions. But if you choose from site No. 3 and site No. 2, No. 2 is more picturesque than No. 3. Especially in combination with the surrounding nature, fleetingly reminiscent of nature middle zone Russia - fields, pine edges, and water meadows.
Having examined everything, we moved to the next point.
Valley jugs№1 (Jars of site 1)
This site is the closest to the city and therefore the most popular. Here the entrance is ennobled and parking is paid. In the main building, where the ticket office is, there is a small museum. Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:00. Entrance fee – 15000 LAK = 2 USD/per person.
Drive a little ahead and leave the bike in the parking lot - 3000 LAK.
The territory, with an area of 25 hectares, is the most landscaped. There are approximately 330 vessels here.
You can also see bombing craters, although now they are almost overgrown. But in some places they are marked with signs.
There is also a small cave here, which served as a refuge for local residents during American bombings.
The drive from the site with jugs No. 1 is approximately 30 km. Along the road, the natural landscape rapidly changes - from water meadows there is a sharp transition to mountain ranges. Beautiful and impressive.
Old capital Muang Khaun(Old capital - Muang Khoun)
The town of Muang Khoun, also known as the old capital of Xiang Khouang province, is also the capital of the medieval state of Phuan. It was here great amount wars, but this city could not “endure” the Secret War - during the bombing, what remained of the city were 2 dilapidated stupas of the 15-16 centuries, That Foun and That Chomphet, and the Wat Pia Wat temple. Entrance fee to all three monuments 10000 LAK = 1 USD/per person.
Wat Pia Wat was built in 1372. and was the local center of Buddhism. Today, all that remains of the temple are ruins, and, of course, a statue of Buddha.
The stupas of That Foun and That Chomphet are almost completely overgrown.
Also 6 km from Muang Khoun town is the famous Tham Piu Cave. During the Secret War, 374 people took refuge in this cave and, unfortunately, all died. We never got to this cave, which we really regret. If you want, go, it’s not so far.
After all this activity, we headed back to Phonsavan to drop off the bike and have dinner.
Where to eat?
There is a wonderful cafe Simmalay in the city center; it is also on the map in MAPS.me.
Map
The locals cook Laotian cuisine, which is very tasty and served in large portions. You can have both breakfast and dinner; huge baguettes are served for breakfast. Second courses cost the maximum here 25000 LAK = 3 USD. What we ordered did not exceed 15000 LAK = 1 USD. As a result, the check usually came out 45000 LAK = 5 USD.
Also, as a sign of respect, they serve aromatic Laotian tea at the establishment’s expense.
Main courses part 1
Main courses part 2
Bus prices from Phonsavan
Tickets are sold at any travel agency; as a rule, the price includes a transfer from the hotel to the bus station.
Cost of travel for 3 days to Phonsavan from Luang Prabang - 50 USD per person
- Bus: Luang Prabang - Phonsavan - Vang Vieng 95000LAK=11USD x 2 = 22USD
- A bike rental: 70000LAK = 8USD
- Excursions:
- Valley of the Jugs Site 1- 15000LAK = 2USD
- Valley of the Jugs Site 2- 10000LAK = 1USD
- Valley of the Jugs Site 3- 10000LAK = 1USD
- Old capital Muang Khaun(Old capital - Muang Khoun)- 10000LAK = 1USD x 2 = 2USD
- Accommodation:
- Guesthouse- 120000LAK = 14USD
Conclusion
It must be said that Laos is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that is extremely diverse. There may not be a sea coast here, but the individuality of each city compensates for this. Phonsavan is no exception. Rich story, mysterious sights and a changing landscape - it’s amazing how all this can be located in such a small town. If you are interested in the history of World Heritage and visiting all sorts of unexplored places, then this trip is for you. We love all kinds of outbacks of this kind, so this trip left us with only vivid impressions.
Many scientists are trying to solve the mystery Valleys of the Jars of Laos (Plane of Jars) , located in Xiang Khouang Province. The Valley of Jugs is also called the “Asian stonehenge” - it’s strange and mysterious archaeological site culture, consisting of thousands of giant stone jars made of sandstone, granite and hardened coral.
Since their discovery back in 1920, jugs have been a source of inspiration for scientists and archaeologists, since these vessels reach a height of 1 to 3 meters, and each of them weighs up to 13 tons. It is believed that they were created 2 thousand years ago, but their true purpose remains shrouded in mystery and legend.
Numerous theories and speculations have arisen regarding the purpose of the jugs. The first archaeological excavations were carried out by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colan in the 1930s, she is sure that the giant buildings were created by representatives of very ancient civilization and were used for funeral rituals as vessels for storing ashes. Madeleine also found a cave with burials and ashes in the vicinity of the valley. According to another version, jugs were used to store food and various substances. It is also widely assumed that rainwater was collected in jugs to supply trade caravans. The jars are placed in a precise order, possibly indicating an ancient trade route.
According to one of the Laotian legends, huge giants lived in this valley a long time ago and the jugs belonged to them. Another legend says that the jars were made by King Khung Trung after he defeated his enemies. They were intended to make large quantities of Lao Lao rice wine in celebration of victory.
Although more than 400 pitcher sites have been discovered, only three sites are open to tourists. The largest of them has 250 stone vessels and is called site No. 1, it is located near the city of Phonsavan.
Despite its remote location, the Valley of Jars was still heavily damaged by the Vietnam War. Between the 1960s and 1970s, a great deal of waste was dumped into Laos a large number of bombs. Since that battle, stone jars have kept their scars in the form of cracks on the walls and huge craters between them.
Undoubtedly, the plain of vessels would attract much more more tourists, if not for the fact that more than 30% of the bombs dropped have not yet exploded, and remain lost and scattered throughout the valley. According to researchers, approximately 250 thousand hidden booby traps are still in Laos, and tragic incidents involving them are reported almost every week.
Perhaps someday it will be possible to unravel the mystery of the Plain of Vessels, but in the meantime, be careful when traveling to Laos!
PHOTO OF THE VALLEY OF PITCHERS IN LAOS |
At the foot of the Annam Range separating Vietnam and Laos there is an unusual area - the Valley of the Jars. This name is not at all accidental and is due to the fact that on the 60 sites located here there are unique historical and archaeological monuments - giant stone jugs, the age of which, according to scientists, is approximately 1500-2000 years.
The strange area, completely covered with huge jugs, is mostly located in Xiang Khouang province. The same sites can be seen in northern India and Thailand. Mysterious jugs have a round or rectangular shape and are made of different materials - granite, rock, calcined coral or sandstone. The size of the jugs randomly scattered throughout the valley can range from one to three meters. Next to them there are also stone disks, which are considered to be the lids of these unusual containers.
That the exact origin and purpose of so many giant stone jars still remains unknown. Scientists believe that the mysterious jugs belong to an unknown ancient people who lived in Southeast Asia about two thousand years ago. According to historians and anthropologists, these jars could have been funerary urns, or were used to store rainwater. Despite numerous theories about the origin of giant stone jars, they all remain unproven.
Some Laotian legends say that giants once lived in the Valley of Jars. Others tell of King Khung Trung's victory over his enemies, after which he gave the order to prepare large quantities of rice wine for the celebration.
In the 1970s, the US Air Force carried out massive bombing in Xiang Khouang province, so much of the Valley of Jars is closed due to unexploded shells from that time. Only three sites are now open to tourists. The largest number of stone jugs, 250 pots, is located at the First Site, which is located near the city of Phonsavan.
Located in Laos, the Valley of Jars is to this day an unsolved monument to a mysterious ancient civilization. The Laotian authorities believe that this unique area is worthy of inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, the large number of shells remaining after the war prevents full-scale research and the development of tourism in this region.