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Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the ‘Plain of Jars’ site 1 in Laos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2019

Dougald O'Reilly
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, 44 Linneaus Way, Acton ACT 2601, Australia
Louise Shewan*
Affiliation:
School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, 253–283 Elgin Street, Victoria, Australia
Kate Domett
Affiliation:
College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
Siȃn E. Halcrow
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Thonglith Luangkhoth
Affiliation:
Department of Heritage, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, P.O. Box 3556, Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
*
*Author for correspondence (Email: louise.shewan@unimelb.edu.au)
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Abstract

The date and significance of the megalithic jar sites of central Laos are comparatively poorly understood features of the Southeast Asian archaeological landscape. First explored systematically in the 1930s, only limited research on these sites has been undertaken since. This article presents the recent excavations at Ban Ang—or site 1—a megalithic jar site of nearly 400 jars, located in Xieng Khouang Province. The results confirm the findings of earlier research, but additionally reveal a range of mortuary practices, high rates of infant and child mortality, and new evidence dating these interments to the ninth to thirteenth centuries AD.

Information

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2019 
Figure 0

Figure 1. Map showing the research area (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016, with topographic data from Google 2018).

Figure 1

Figure 2. Plan view of site 1 showing jar groups and limestone cave (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 2

Table 1. Dates reported in Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.)* and Van Den Bergh (n.d.)** for site 1.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Map showing the location of excavation units 1, 2 and 3; dotted lines represent past excavations nearby (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 4

Figure 4. Unit 1 after the removal of the grass, showing megalithic jars and other features; extensions to this area were excavated later (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 5

Figure 5. Map illustrating features mentioned in the text in unit 1 at level 1:2 (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 6

Figure 6. Map illustrating features mentioned in the text in unit 1 at level 1:4 (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 7

Table 2. Human remains and associated burial numbers from site 1.

Figure 8

Figure 7. Map of unit 2 illustrating the pavement of sandstone chips (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 9

Figure 8. Photograph of burials 5/7 showing the position of perforated limestone slab (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 10

Figure 9. Map of unit 2 illustrating burial context 5/7 (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 11

Figure 10. Photograph of ceramic mortuary vessels in situ in unit 3; another was discovered in the north baulk (figure by Plain of Jars Research Project 2016).

Figure 12

Table 3. Radiocarbon results for samples in unit 1 at site 1, Plain of Jars. All with a confidence at 94.5% (Fallon et al. 2010). Modelled in OxCal v.4.2 IntCal 13 calibration curve (Bronk Ramsey 2009; Reimer et al. 2013).

Figure 13

Table 4. Radiocarbon results for samples in unit 2 at site 1, Plain of Jars. Dates modelled in OxCal v.4.2 IntCal13 calibration curve, all with a confidence at 94.5% (Bronk Ramsey 2009; Fallon et al.2010; Reimer et al. 2013).

Figure 14

Table 5. Radiocarbon results for samples in unit 3 at site 1. Dates modelled in OxCal v.4.2 IntCal13 calibration curve, all with a confidence at 94.5% (Bronk Ramsey 2009; Fallon et al. 2010; Reimer et al. 2013).

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