The Plain of Jars

Do we look cold?!! This is us at the Plain of Jars - there are three sites near Phonsavanh where fields are dotted with all these ancient, massive sandstone jars. No one knows for sure what they were for or who made them but most people believe they were funerary. The guide told us that when a family member died they would put their body in the jar for 5 to 10 years then removed the remains, burn them and out their ashes in a smaller jar next to the main one. But there is little evidence to support any theory around.

Apparently UNESCO is looking at listing the Jars in the next few years so hopefully that will bring in some money to pay for their protection because they are wearing away as a result of tourists and zee elements.

This province has a whole lot of UXO (unexploded ordinance) from the American War (Vietnamese War) and the paths through the jars are lined with markers by MAG (a not for profit mine clearing organisation called Mine Action Group) indicating thatthe land outside of the metre-wide path has not been cleared of mines. EEEEK. All around the jars are fields and mountains covered in huge bomb craters and there are even a couple smack bang in the middle of the jars. There are also trenches running between the jars. The whole area was a hot spot for the fighting between the Americans, the American-supplied Hmong guerillas, the Vietnamese and the Laos. the Laos had the least to do with it, it seems, but once again they got screwed and now their land is ruined.