This plateau, located in the Xieng Khouang region of Laos and covered with thousands of stone pots, some exceeding three meters, contains a great riddle that archaeologists have been trying to solve for years. It is still unclear who made these pottery, in what period and how. Additionally, how these structures weighing tons were transported from quarries many kilometers away is among the unanswered questions.
The findings obtained in recent excavations took this mystery one step further. Around the pottery, researchers found copper alloy bells, ceramic burial vessels, and most notably human teeth and bone fragments. These ruins strongly support that the area was not only a settlement area but also a large cemetery area where rituals were performed.
According to scientists, the data obtained points to the practice of “secondary burial”. Accordingly, the deceased were first buried elsewhere, and then some of their remains were moved to the area where these pots were found and reburied.
The studies carried out jointly by Australian and Laotian researchers since 2016 are supported by modern technologies. Field surveys with drones, carbon and luminescence dating methods, and isotope analyzes on human remains provided a better understanding of the area. These works also contributed to the region being included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Stone tools, iron objects, beads and metal ornaments unearthed during excavations show that Laos was connected to a broader Southeast Asian cultural network in the past. Particularly copper alloy bells offer important clues about the trade and interaction networks of the region.
Another striking find during the research was an iron object with wooden remains inside. Scientists used computerized tomography and micro-CT techniques to examine the artifact without damaging it. Analysis revealed that the object contained mineralized wood fragments. However, it is not yet clear whether this object is a tool, a weapon or an object for ritual purposes.
Despite all these developments, the biggest secrets of the “Pottery Plain” are still unsolved. The questions of who made these giant stone pots, when exactly they were produced and how they were transported still await answers. The researchers aim to help the international scientific community solve this mystery together, thanks to the open-access digital archive they created.
