Plains of Jars - Phonsavan, Laos

Plain of Jars refers to mysterious antique stone jars scattered across the countryside. There are more than 400 sites across the whole Plain of Jars which centers on the area of Xieng Khouang, a province of Laos; but apparently you can also see such jars in the southern part of Thailand and the northern part of India.  The jars appear to be laid in a linear path that was probably a trade route, but their real nature is still a mystery.

The jars are made of sedimentary rock, usually sandstones, but also granite, conglomerate or calcified coral. They are angular or round and some have disks that could be lids. They can weigh up to 13 tons and range from one to three meters in height.

This is most likely a lid, but I have no idea how one would be able to lift it up…pure slab of rock

Water that accumulates in the jars is sometime creating a micro-cosmos for water plants and bugs.

It is not very clear but there is a white-yellow-black spider in the middle of this picture.

One “interesting” thing from our visit to the Plains of Jars is that you are asked to stay on the marked path as there are still unexploded ordinance dating from the secret war in Laos…yep, that made me feel really comfortable.