A Discovered Trove of Bones and Teeth Yields New Clues to the Century-Old Mystery of 'Death Jars' in Laos
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Archaeologists in Laos have discovered the remains of 37 individuals inside a large stone jar at the Plain of Jars, shedding light on a long-standing mystery regarding the site's burial practices. This significant find suggests a multigenerational burial tradition, with remains dated between the 9th and 12th centuries C.E. The research indicates that the jar may have been used for communal burials, challenging previous assumptions about the site's historical context.
- ▪The discovery includes bones and teeth from 37 individuals, including children and adults.
- ▪Radiocarbon dating shows the remains were added over several centuries, suggesting a medieval culture.
- ▪The excavation site is one of the largest jars recorded, indicating a potentially unique burial tradition.
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| Original publisher | Smithsonian Magazine |
| Canonical URL | https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-discovered-trove-of-bones-and-teeth-yields-new-clues-to-the-century-old-mystery-of-death-jars-in-laos-180988772/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 20 May 2026 21:08:33 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-20T21:15:02.984Z |
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A Discovered Trove of Bones and Teeth Yields New Clues to the Century-Old Mystery of ‘Death Jars’ in Laos Scientists found bones of 37 people inside a giant stone jar at one of Southeast Asia’s most puzzling archaeological sites. The find suggests a multigenerational burial practice Christian Thorsberg | Daily Correspondent May 20, 2026 5:08 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source The Plain of Jars is an archaeological site with thousands of stone jars in Laos Jakub Hałun via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 Archaeologists in Laos discovered the remains of at least 37 human skeletons packed inside a centuries-old stone jar, shedding new light on one of the most mysterious burial sites in the world.
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