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Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos

Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos In 2020 a Lao/Australian archaeological research team revisited one of the largest megalithic jar sites in Laos, Site 1, and undertook excavations in an effort to more fully understand the ritual practice at the site. This paper reviews previous research undertaken at the site and describes the recent excavation which revealed evidence of secondary burial practice dating to the 8th to thirteenth centuries. The research confirms the use of Site 1 as a burial site where multiple individuals were interred in secondary burials in shared mortuary contexts. Keywords Megaliths · Archaeology · Laos 1 Introduction the topsoil comprises limestone (in areas, a Fengcong karst landscape), siltstone and sandstone bedrock and to the west, The megalithic jar sites, often collectively referred to as the outcrops of rhyolite have been identified and to the east, fault Plain of Jars, are located in northern Laos, predominantly in bounded graben. Granite is also found on the plateau (Van Xieng Khouang with some in neighbouring provinces. These Den Bergh n.d. a). The jar sites are found over an area of sites comprise large, hollowed stone receptacles fashioned more than 10,000 km , with 129 sites now confirmed, found from various types of stone including sandstone, breccia, mostly atop hills, or in mountainous locations. The number limestone, conglomerate and granite. The raw material for of jars vary with between one and more than 400 jars in the jars comes from the local area and quarries have been some locations. The jars were first explored archaeologically identified near some sites. The plateau on which most of the by the French scholar Madeleine Colani (1935). jar sites are located comprises rolling terrain interspersed Since 2016 a joint Lao-Australian research team has with hills and shallow river valleys. The geology beneath undertaken documentation and excavation at several mega- lithic jar sites in north-central Laos (O’Reilly et al. 2019a; O’Reilly et al. 2019b; Skopal et al. 2020) with excavations having been undertaken at Site 1 (O’Reilly et al. 2019a), Site Dougald O’Reilly and Louise Shewan contributed equally. 52, (O’Reilly et al. 2019b) and at a third site 12 km from Site * Dougald O’Reilly 1, called Site 2 ( O’Reilly et al. 2022b) (Fig. 1). dougald.oreilly@anu.edu.au Site 1 was first excavated by the authors in 2016 (O’Reilly et  al. 2019a) and in 2020 the authors returned to the site School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia to expand excavations there. Site 1 comprises five groups of large jars, mostly of sandstone and conglomerate and School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia hundreds of quartz-rich breccia boulders scattered around a limestone cave. Group 1 has been excavated in the past (by Department of Heritage, Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism, Vientiane, Laos Colani and Sayavongkhamdy) but activity since the 1970s has considerably disturbed the archaeological contexts. For College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia this reason the authors focused their efforts on the largest and less disturbed group of jars at the site, Group 2. Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Department of Aviation, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 1 Map of Laos showing locations of sites mentioned in the text Here we review previous research undertaken in Group 2 review the research focussed on Group 2 in this paper as at Site 1 and present the findings from the excavations under - our recent research was focussed there. The first excava- taken in 2020 including the discovery of four mortuary con- tions were undertaken by Madeleine Colani in the 1930s texts which contained the remains of at least 12 individuals. (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019). After a lacuna of several decades, a minor excavation was undertaken by Eiji Nitta (1996) and later by Thongsa Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) in the 2 Previous research in group 2, site 1 1990s. Julie Van Den Bergh (n.d. b) conducted minimal rescue operations at the site in 2007. Site 1 comprises five groups of jars (Fig.  2), the first group of 60 jars is located on a small hill at the north of the site, while the largest group (227 jars) lies to the west of this 3 Colani and forms a large crescent of jars which faces a limestone hill with a large cave to the east. Groups 3 (12 jars) and 4 In Group 2 (Fig. 2), Colani excavated in three locations. It (four jars) lie south of Group 2 and Group 5 (13 jars) lies is difficult now, to ascertain the exact location of Colani’s at the highest elevation to the south of Group 1. Prior to (1935 v.2:35) excavations but she reported that digging the recent research at Site 1, four archaeological investiga- under the jars proved to be “almost invariably fruitless”. In tions have been conducted at the site. While some investi- her excavations in Group 2, Colani reports finding a num- gations have been undertaken elsewhere at the site we will ber of earthenware vessels, some of which had a coarse 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 2 Map of Site 1, Xieng Khouang, Laos. Icons in red represent the location of excava- tion units glaze (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019). The ceramic vessels are One of the pits contained a 60 cm tall, glazed and incised described as sub-cylindrical, some containing fragments of ceramic jar with a lid. The jar contained fragments of skull, bone. femur and humerus and three teeth. Nitta (1996) asserts that As well as these sub-cylindrical vessels, Colani found the pits are likely contemporaneous to or earlier than the small ceramic vessels, not exceeding 5 cm in height, which megalithic jar emplacement. He suggests that the megalithic resemble the large megalithic jars in form. Other artefacts jars, pit and ceramic jar burials belong to the late first mil- discovered included bowls, ear discs with concave edges, lennium AD, “made around the ninth to tenth century AD” ceramic weights and beads, carnelian and glass beads, arte- (Nitta 1996:17). facts of bronze and iron including a chisel (23 cm long), tanged knives, ear-pendants and bangles, and spherical bronze bells decorated with a spiral design. Following the 5 1996 Excavations work of Colani there was a hiatus in archaeological research at Jar sites until the mid-1990s. Sayavongkhamdy excavated in various locations at Site 1 in 1996 (Sayavongkhamdy and Bellwood 2000) but here we describe only the excavations in Group 2 as they were adja- cent to the excavation undertaken in 2020. 4 1994 Excavations Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) excavated a 3 × 3 m area around four megalithic jars (Fig. 3). The unit was centred on Jars Nitta (1996) excavated four intersecting trenches around 184 (re-labelled 01,020,128) and 187 (01,020,127) and ori- a jar decorated with a carved human figure (https:// plain- ented north–south. The first few cm of excavation revealed of- jars. org/ jars/ 01020 188/) in Group 2. This work exposed two areas of sandstone chips and irregular blocks. Sayavong- seven pits, each covered by a flat stone. Unburned human khamdy (n.d.) identified 11 pits, six of which sat beneath bones and teeth were found in these pits, some of these either limestone cobbles (n = 2), pavements of sandstone remains were associated with iron knives and glass beads. chips (n = 2) or sandstone blocks (n = 2), one of which was 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 3 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 1. Megalithic jars represented in dark grey. F = feature, cat. = catalogued artefact, circled dots = elevation above sea level, L = limestone, C = ceramic, sst = sandstone. Dotted line represents 1996 excavation carved depicting a naked couple. Artefacts found in these 6 2004 Rescue excavations pits comprise miniature pots, ceramic sherds, two iron ban- gles, a bronze bell, carnelian and unidentified stone beads, During the UXO clearance in Group 2, five units were exca- nephrite beads, glass beads and fragments of charcoal. In vated based on the discovery of what appeared to be burial one, a stone pendant was found which is similar to the pen- assemblages (Van Den Bergh and Luangaphay n.d.). dant found by Colani at Ban Xot (Colani 1935 vol.2 83). In the first trench excavated, coarse, glazed, sherds dec- Another pit contained a large, cylindrical, ceramic vessel orated with incised lines were found in association with beneath a pavement of sandstone chips. No bone was found burned human bone and a bi-point lithic artefact. The sec- inside this vessel but it is thought by Sayavongkhamdy to ond trench revealed three separate contexts, one comprising represent a secondary burial. This thin-walled vessel was a concentration of coarse, thin-walled ceramic sherds and flat-bottomed and red in colour. a small, crushed, pot, similar to that found by Sayavong- Human remains were found in two of the pits, one with khamdy (1998:9–10) and Colani (1935. pp.41- 43). Charcoal just a human tooth but another containing two human skulls, (A6146) from this context dated 935 ± 50BP (1018–1210 teeth and four long bones sitting atop a charcoal lens. Char- calAD 95.4%). The second context was found beneath a coal and bone was collected during these excavations and a quartz-veined breccia boulder and contained similar coarse sample of charcoal (S33-ANU) taken from the bottom of one ceramic sherds, bone fragments and stone artefacts. The of the pits at 72 cm of depth, returned a date of 8150 ± 90 third context in this trench contained incised and glazed BP (7468–6827 BC). A fragment of the skull (lab num- ceramic sherds and a large carved stone. The latter sat ber lost) from the same pit was AMS dated and returned a directly atop two ceramic burial jars. A third trench revealed date of 3410 ± 190 BP (2282–1265 BC). Another pit con- ceramics and the fourth revealed the presence of two ceramic tained charcoal (ANU-10767, ANU-10764) which returned vessels, interpreted as burial jars by Van Den Bergh. Only dates of 920 ± 50 BP (1027–1220 AD) and 8320 ± 100 BP one of these vessels was removed. The fifth unit of excava- (7577–7079 BC) respectively (Sayavongkhamdy n.d.). tion exposed a modern, military bugle. 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos artefacts associated with the conflict in Laos in the 1970s, 7 2016 Excavation three earthenware ceramic sherds and two coins, one with a string of beads attached. One of the coins appears to be The authors excavated in three locations at Site 1 in 2016 a French colonial-era 20 cent piece dating to 1906 and the (O’Reilly et al. 2019a) leading to the discovery of secondary other is dated 1926 but these may be reproductions. There burials of human bone (in Unit 1) beneath a large sandstone were no features evident (Fig. 3). disc and associated with limestone blocks, pavements of The excavation of the second spit (Fig. 4) revealed the chipped sandstone, secondary burial of human remains in presence of 25 limestone and eight irregular sandstone boul- ceramic vessels (in Unit 3) and, for the first time, a primary ders of varying size, and fragments of sandstone disc, one burial of two individuals (in Unit 2). A minimum number of found in the middle of the unit, and another on the eastern 18 individuals were identified from these mortuary contexts baulk (these did not match). Several of the boulders were representing the remains of individuals spanning all ages and labelled as features where they were found in groups. Along both sexes with over 60 per cent of the mortuary population the western baulk of the unit a large scatter of gravel and being younger than 15 years of age. This number of individ- oblong, rather crudely made, ceramic beads were found. uals and the number of very young individuals, suggesting A number of earthenware sherds were found in this spit a high fertility rate, buried in an area of 49m may indicate along with several broken ceramic vessels. Other artefacts either a growing population at the time of their interment in the second spit comprised a basalt flake, three hammer - (O’Reilly et al. 2019a), and/or burial reuse. stones, a ceramic weight, an iron chisel, a spindle whorl, an The 2016 excavations exposed material culture similar iron bangle fragment, a cylindrical clay object, possibly an to that found during previous research at Site 1, including ear plug or gaming piece, and a carnelian bead. earthenware ceramic sherds and complete miniature ceramic Spit 3 revealed the presence of 11 features which ‘jars’ which resemble the large stone jars of the site. Other appeared to be pits, apparent after the removal of limestone finds included lithic pendants, ceramic ear discs and glass boulders which sat atop them (Fig. 5). One of these appar- and carnelian beads. The 2016 excavations also confirmed ent pits was found beneath and around one of the partial that the boulders found at Site 1 served to demarcate sub- sandstone discs which was placed atop a limestone slab. The surface interments, as did the carved sandstone discs. The matrix around the limestone was gravelly and the soil under charcoal and bone that was retrieved from the excavated the limestone was dark brown (7.5YR 4/4). A number of areas indicate that the mortuary activity took place between artefacts were found within this feature including ceramic the eighth and thirteenth centuries AD (see O’Reilly et al. earthenware sherds, found beneath the limestone slab, clay 2019a for details of excavations). beads, a small piece of bone and some charcoal. Two sam- ples of charcoal were taken from the feature for radiocarbon dating (see below). Several of these features were revealed 8 2020 Excavation campaign to be secondary burials. On the east side of the unit, another feature of darker With the aim of gaining a more comprehensive understand- (7.5YR 4/4), gravelly soil was apparent near Jar 01020126 in ing of the use of Site 1 and based on the finds made by which sat three large and one small limestone blocks. Some Sayavongkhamdy in 1996, in 2020, the authors decided to earthenware sherds and a small ceramic globular vessel in expand the area of his excavation. This unit was named Unit the east baulk. Upon removal of the limestone block, human teeth and bone fragments were discovered and the feature A 10 × 3 m unit was established adjacent to a line of four was labelled as Burial 1 (Fig. 5). megalithic jars which are aligned running north-east at 30° To the north-west of Burial 1 were found three pieces of (Fig. 3). Unit 4 overlapped slightly with the north-west cor- limestone, a larger, square slab and two smaller irregular ner of the unit excavated by Sayavongkhamdy. pieces, in the middle of the unit. Human bone was found in Excavation was undertaken using arbitrary 10 cm spits association with the limestone and this feature was subse- and layers, the latter designated by changes in the soil colour. quently labelled as Burial 2 (Figs. 5 and 6). A few ceramic The upper-most layer was designated as Layer 1, spit 1. Fea- sherds were recovered around the limestone. tures uncovered in each spit were labelled sequentially and In the north of the unit, a large collection (n = 14) of lime- are denoted herein with the layer, spit and feature number. stone blocks of varying sizes sat upon a darker, gravelly soil The soil removed from the unit was sieved through 5 mm (5YR 3/2) flecked with charcoal and small pieces of quartz. screens. A sample of this charcoal was taken for radiocarbon dat- A 10 cm spit was removed from Unit 4 revealing a num- ing (see below). Originally labelled 1:3 F8, the name was ber of dispersed sandstone pebbles. Few artefacts were changed to Burial 3 upon discovery of human bone beneath discovered aside from a piece of quartz crystal, military one of the pieces of limestone (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8). More 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 4 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 2 Fig. 5 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 3 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 6 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 4 small limestone slabs, bone and ceramic shers appeared Five further pit features were found, two were devoid of as excavation continued. In total, four fragmentary human artefacts and three contained earthenware ceramic sherds. skulls were uncovered in the feature as well as some frag- Elsewhere in the unit at this level were found some ceramic mentary bone. sherds, a hammerstone and an iron fragment. Near Jar 01020130 another feature named 1:3 F3 In spit four, two further features were revealed (Fig. 6). extended into the unit—the soil was gravelly and different in The first was in the east baulk near the southeast corner colour (7.5YR 4/3) to the surrounding matrix (7.5YR 4/6). of the unit adjacent to the broken sandstone disc. This There was some red (10R 4/8) clay mixed into the feature’s circular pit was visible due to a differentiation in soil tex- matrix indicating it had been excavated, in the past, into ture (fine gravel) and contained four bronze bells, a bronze the natural substrate. This large feature encompassed a sub- bangle and a clay bead. stantial limestone slab and some smaller limestone chunks. The second feature in this spit was also on the east Found within the feature were a broken ceramic vessel and baulk near the northeast corner of the unit and comprised some earthenware sherds. The two limestone blocks were three pieces of limestone protruding from the baulk. The removed from the feature and three human skulls and long soil in this area was of a slightly different colour (5YR 4/4) bones were found within the pit and it was renamed Burial to the surrounding matrix and within the feature, ceramic 4 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9). A fragment of this bone was sampled sherds were found. Beneath a piece of limestone, some for radiocarbon dating (see below) and a piece of charcoal poorly preserved, unidentifiable, bone was encountered from the burial context was also sampled. and some earthenware ceramic sherds. One other feature (1:3 F9), located beneath a limestone After removing a further 10 cm of matrix in Unit 4 (spit block, contained bone and a small ceramic vessel. It was 5), two small circular features were apparent and Burials not designated as a burial due to the inability to definitively 2, 3 and 4 were fully exposed (Fig. 7). One of the circular identify the bone as human. features, 25 cm in depth, contained flecks of charcoal and earthenware sherds and a thin layer of lighter coloured gravel. The second feature comprised mottled red (10R 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 7 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 5 Fig. 8 Photograph of Burial 3, Unit 4 at Site 1 Fig. 9 Photograph of Burial 4, Unit 4 at Site 1 4/8) clay in which four pieces of earthenware ceramic were 9 Burials found. After the removal of 1:5, there was a notable change in the The excavation of the four burial contexts revealed that soil colour (10R 4/8) across Unit 4 and the matrix became a minimum number of 12 individuals were interred in more clayey. Below this point the matrix was archaeologi- the excavated area, distributed across four mortuary con- cally sterile, confirmed by the excavation of test pits. texts. Burial 1, contained three permanent teeth and bone 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Table 1 Radiocarbon dates Provenance in Unit 4 WK# Material Date BP cal BC/AD obtained during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. Calibrated 1:3 Feature 51194 charcoal 975 ± 25 BP 1021–1158 AD radiocarbon ages are presented 1:3 Feature 51200 charcoal 828 ± 25 BP 1175–1268 AD at 95.4% confidence, using Under stone jar 01020130 51199 charcoal 1059 ± 61 BP 774–1156 AD OxCal v.4.4 and the IntCal 20 calibration curve (Brock et al. 1:3 Feature 8 Burial 3 51,203 charcoal 867 ± 26 BP 1051–1257 AD 2010; Ramsey 2017) 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51198 charcoal 864 ± 28 BP 1052–1260 AD 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51202 charcoal 1005 ± 25 BP 991–1150 AD 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51262 human bone 1144 ± 23 773–987 AD fragments, but, given the range of tooth wear, it was likely requires detailed investigation. Three other crania were not these three teeth belonged to at least two individuals. Bur- able to be assessed for age or sex but at least one was adult ial 2 held only a small collection of likely human bone and a further was possibly subadult. The dental remains fragments. demonstrated evidence of caries, again commonly cemento- Burial 3 (Fig. 8) represented a MNI of five people based enamel junction and interproximally located. There were on the presence of five left petrous temporal bones and sup - also cases of periapical infection. One of the tibiae was from ported by the dental remains present. The remains, compris- a subadult, probably an older child or young adolescent. ing four crania, a range of dental remains and incomplete The location of the burial pits containing the secondary cranial and postcranial bones, are disarticulated. Two cra- burials of multiple individuals did not seem to have any nia are represented by fragments only and are of indeter- direct or consistent relationship to the location of the mega- minate age and sex. A maxilla and mandible belong to an lithic jars at Site 1. Research undertaken in 2016 (O’Reilly 11.5–13.5-year-old, one of the crania is possibly that of an et al. 2019a) and unpublished reports from previous excava- adult female (age at death, unknown), and another is from tions (Sayavongkhamdy n.d.; Van Den Bergh n.d. b) seem to a young adult of unknown sex. The latter cranium also had indicate a relationship between the interment of bundles of possible evidence of dental ablation or agenesis of both the bone and limestone slabs and sandstone discs at Site 1. The maxillary lateral incisors and the maxillary canines. This site also contains hundreds of quartz-rich granitoid boulders symmetrical pattern of loss is more suggestive of inten- which seem to have been used to mark the location of subter- tional ablation, an activity known to have occurred in the ranean ceramic jars containing human remains, often those late Pleistocene site of Tam Hang in northern Laos (Willman of infants. It is unclear whether the secondary burials (both et al. 2016), as well as a range of sites in prehistoric Cam- bone bundles and ceramic jar burials) are contemporaneous bodia, Vietnam and Thailand (Domett et al. 2013; Newton with the megalithic jars but this issue may be clarified as and Domett 2017). The dental remains also indicated some Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dates are cur- people suffered from caries, periapical infections and ante- rently being prepared. mortem tooth loss. One mandible, for example, had lost six teeth antemortem, all first and second molars as well the left third molar and the right second premolar. Caries lesions 10 Dating were often found at the cemento-enamel junction and inter- proximally. Fragmented postcranial remains comprised parts Six charcoal samples and one bone sample were taken for of humerii, radii, ulnae, femora and tibiae. One adult femur radiocarbon dating from four contexts during the excavation had a possible peri or post-mortem cut mark (15.4 mm in of Unit 4. The results are presented in Table 1. length) on the lateral aspect just proximal to the midpoint of the shaft which requires further investigation. Burial 4 (Fig. 9) included a minimum of four individuals 11 Discussion based on the presence of four crania and included a range of cranial, dental and postcranial remains, including hand The purpose of excavating a fourth unit at Site 1 was to and foot bones, but with no clear anatomical articulation explore further the mortuary traditions identified in previous evident. The remains in Burial 4 were uncovered in a sin- excavations and build on the discoveries in the same area gle layer whereas those in Burial 3 were in layers within a made by Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.). In previous excavations deeper, but narrower pit. One of the crania and one of the (O’Reilly et al. 2019a) there appeared to be a relationship mandibles in this burial likely belong to adult females. The between boulders, limestone slabs, discs and secondary female cranium had a 62.5 mm peri- or post-mortem cut interments (either bundles of bone or ceramic jars containing mark across the posterior aspect of the left parietal bone that human remains) and the 2020 excavations were undertaken 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. The discovery of a probable chisel during the excavation of Unit 4 at Site 1 is of considerable interest. The chisel-like artefact found during the 2020 excavations measures 71 mm in length and the tip is 3.9 mm wide but, as the implement is corroded, the actual tip width is expected to have been narrower (Fig. 10). As such it may represent a ‘point chisel’ used to remove stone from an object after it has been quar- ried (Wooton et al. 2013). This type of tool tends to leave sharp, narrow, and well-defined marks as they are struck along the rock surface with a hammer or mallet (Wooton et al. 2013). The megalithic jars at Sites 1, 2 and 3 and at the quarry sites 8 and 21 were investigated by Tener (2020) to assess the method of jar creation. Tener made moulds of the manufacturing scars taken from the interior of several jars at these sites for comparative purposes. The scars on Fig. 10 Iron implement possibly representing a chisel found in Unit 4 the jars at the sites investigated by Tener (2020) are nearly at Site 1 during 2020 excavations identical in size to the tip of the chisel (< 0.5 mm differ - ence) lending credence to the identification of this object as a chisel. Colani also reports finding a socketed “denticulated to confirm this hypothesis. Here we will review some of the bronze chisel” at Site 1, noting tool marks on many jars notable items of material culture excavated during the 2020 likely to have been made by a chisel (Shewan and O’Reilly research before turning to discuss the human remains found 2019:140, 497). and the dating of these contexts. Fig. 11 Artefacts recovered during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. A. clay beads, B. opaque glass beads, C. copper bangle, D. Carnelian bead, E. bronze bells with coil designs 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 12 Artefacts recovered during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. A. globular earthenware vessel similar to those found by Colani, B. perforated earthen- ware discs, C. earthenware ves- sels possibly representing the megalithic jars in miniature, D. earthenware vessel with a bowl placed atop The other items of material culture found in Unit 4 at Site The items of material culture recovered from Unit 4 are 1 include jewellery. Dozens of clay beads (Fig. 11a) were similar to those found during previous excavations at Site 1 found scattered over a large area in Unit 4 (Fig. 4). These and to other megalithic jar sites excavated by the authors in are rough, oblong (c. 2 × 1 cm), earthenware beads with a Laos (Sites 2 and 52). The bronze bells are similar to those large perforation. Other items of jewellery include opaque, found at Site 2 (O’Reilly et al. 2022a, 2022b) and Colani terracotta-coloured glass beads (Fig. 11b) and a robust lead- found similar bells at the site of Ban Xot, Lat Sen, Ban Soua, alloyed copper bangle (Fig. 11c), (Sullivan pers. comm. Ban Na Seo and Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:778, 755; 2022). A carnelian bead (Fig.  11d) and three spherical 734, 743, 776). She also recovered a clay mould for pro- bronze bells (Fig. 11e) with a delicate filigree decoration on ducing bronze bells (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:759). They the exterior were also found. have also been found in excavations in Lao Pako (Källén Hundreds of earthenware sherds were recovered during 2004), Sepon (Chang pers. comm. 2022) in Laos, Sa Huynh the excavation of Unit 4, as were several partially complete in Vietnam (Dzung 2009), Cambodia (Mansuy 1923, pl. ceramic vessels including a globular vessel with a glaze VIII, O’Reilly et al. 2015, O’Reilly et al. 2020) and Thai- (Fig. 12a), three ceramic discs, identified as spindle whorls land (Chang 2001; Higham et al. 2007) at sites dating to the (Fig. 12b), several small semi-cylindrical vessels (Fig. 12c) Bronze and Iron Ages. and one small vessel with a larger bowl placed atop it as a Colani reports finding a nearly identical copper bangle to lid (Fig. 12d). that found in 2020 in the cave at Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly Other items found include quartz crystals (n = 2), a basalt 2019:776) as well as carnelian beads (Shewan and O’Reilly flake, a whetstone, hammerstones (n = 5), and iron bangle 2019:616) and opaque, terracotta-coloured, glass beads fragments (n = 2). (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:742) and beads similar to the clay beads (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:739). The ceramics found during the excavation of Unit 4 also have parallels from previous excavations. Glazed, globu- lar pots, similar to those mentioned above, were identified The bangle is currently undergoing conservation at the Grimwade by Colani at Site 1 which she termed either cooking or Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne. 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. cremation pots, noting they contained “fragments of …fire- (Shewan et al. 2021). Optically Stimulated Luminescence blackened bone.” (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019: 403, 783). dates, obtained from sediments from beneath the jars at So too, did Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:743) dis- Site 2, suggest the emplacement of the megaliths as early cover similar miniature pots resembling the large stone jars as the 2nd millennium BC (Shewan et al. 2021). How the in form at Site 1. The ceramic vessel with a bowl set atop secondary burials (both bundle and ceramic jar) relate to it, found in Unit 4, may have parallels to mouth-to-mouth each other and to the megalthic jars requires further inves- pots discovered by Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:472, tigation. OSL samples taken during the 2020 excavation 736) at Thao Kham. The discs found in 2020 resemble what may aid in this endeavour, as might further radiocarbon Colani calls ear plugs but do not have a groove on the outer dating of bone should the ceramic jar burials render sam- edge which would have served to keep the ornament in place ples suitable for dating. What is evident is that this site in the ear nor do they have decorations as those found by has produced divergent mortuary practices (primary, sec- Colani do (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:739). ondary and ceramic jar burial) and has maintained ritual Unit 4 was also found to contain what are likely ham- significance for an extended period of time. merstones, spherical rocks with evidence of percussive damage. Similar objects are mentioned by Colani (She- wan and O’Reilly 2019:215) who found them in the cave 12 Conclusion at Site 1. Whetstones, found in Unit 4 are also noted by Colani from San Hin Oume, Lat Sen, and Na Nong (She- The excavation of Unit 4 at Site 1 reached a depth of c. wan and O’Reilly 2019:225, 466, 468) as well as Site 1 50 cm when the natural substrate, undisturbed by anthro- (O’Reilly et al. 2019a, 2019b). pogenic activity, was met. Similar results to those reported While Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019) does not by Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) during his excavations around report bundles of human bone from her excavations at the same jars were found, a series of pits capped with the jar sites, she does, however, note the significance of worn limestone slabs, some of which contained human limestone slabs in the matrix surrounding the megalithic remains. These comprise the remains of several individu- jars at Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:423). During als of varying age and represent secondary burials. The the excavation of Unit 1, Site 1 in 2016 (O’Reilly et al. matrix around these pits returned a range of artefacts, 2019a) human remains beneath limestone slabs were mostly ceramic sherds but some near-complete earthen- found in three areas comprising the remains of 12 indi- ware vessels, whetstones, items of personal adornment, viduals. One of these bundles was found atop limestone spindle whorls and items that may relate to the carving slabs beneath a large sandstone disc. A smaller fragment of stone including an iron chisel and hammerstones. Only of a sandstone disc was uncovered during the excavation a few metallic items were found but this result should be of Unit 4 which sat atop limestone slabs with unidentifi- viewed with caution as the upper 25 cm of the matrix at able bone between them which may represent a similar Site 1 had been cleared of UXO and all metal detected was mortuary practice. removed in the mid-2000s. The dates obtained from the excavation of Unit 4, fall- The result of this excavation reveals that there is con- ing in the 8th to thirteenth centuries are, largely, congru- sistency in the mortuary practice in Group 2 at Site 1 with ous to those obtained in the 2016 excavation at Site 1. secondary burials being reported in the group in previous In Unit 1 radiocarbon dates also ranged from the 8th to excavations in which multiple individuals were interred the thirteenth century although two very early dates were together in pits covered by limestone slabs or, less fre- returned as well. Unit 2 returned dates from the 9th to quently, sandstone discs. The material culture also is thirteenth centuries, again with two very early dates and consistent. Unit 3 returned dates from the 10th to twelfth centuries Acknowledgements This paper is dedicated to our friend and col- with four very early dates and a date from human bone league, Thongsa Sayavongkhamdy, a pioneer in Lao archaeology, who that feel between eighth and tenth centuries (O’Reilly sadly passed away in 2022 prior to its publication. We extend our grati- et  al. 2019a). The early dates from these contexts are tude to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MoICT), the Xieng Khouang Provincial governor and District chiefs. hypothesised to relate to earlier contexts which were dis- turbed in the excavation of the mortuary contexts. Exca- Funding Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and vations at Site 2 also returned radiocarbon dates but in its Member Institutions Funding for the research was provided by the some instances, these were earlier than those found at Site Australian Research Council (DP150101164). 1. In Unit 1 at Site 2 dates ranged from the eighth century Data Availability The datasets generated during and/or analysed dur- to the twelfth century (two late dates were also returned, ing the current study are available from the corresponding author on possibly related to recent activity at the site). Units 2 and reasonable request. 3 at Site 2 returned dates from the 7th to eighth century 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos O’Reilly, D., L. Shewan, T. Luangkhoth, A. Butphachit, and M. Kham- Declarations phouvong. 2022b. Further Excavations Among the Megaliths: Research at Plain of Jars Site 2 in Laos. Journal of the Indo- Conflict of Interest On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author Pacific Prehistory Association 46 (1): 1–16. states that there is no conflict of interest. O’Reilly D., Shewan L., Domett K., Halcrow S.E. and Luangkhoth T. 2019a. Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attri- ‘Plain of Jars’ site 1 in Laos. Antiquity. Aug; 93(370):970–89. bution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adapta- https:// doi. org/ 10. 15184/ aqy. 2019. 102. tion, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long O’Reilly D., Shewan L., Khamphouvong M. and Butphachit A. 2019b. as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, Research at megalithic jar site 52 and the discovery of new jar provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes sites in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. Asian Archaeology. were made. The images or other third party material in this article are https:// doi. org/ 10. 1007/ s41826- 019- 00023-0. included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated O’Reilly, D., Shewan L., Khamphouvong, M., Butphachit, A., Luang- otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in khoth, T., Skopal N. and Bounxaythip S. 2022a. Ban Pha Tai: the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not The excavation and dating of a buried megalithic jar in Xieng permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will Khouang, Lao PDR. Archaeological Research in Asia. https://doi. need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a org/ 10. 1016/j. ara. 2021. 100336. copy of this licence, visit http://cr eativ ecommons. or g/licen ses/ b y/4.0/ . Ramsey, C.B. 2017. Methods for summarizing radiocarbon datasets. Radiocarbon 59 (6): 1809–1833. Sayavongkhamdy, T., and P. Bellwood. 2000. Recent archaeological research in Laos. Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Associa- tion 19: 101–110. References Sayavongkhamdy, T. n.d. Untitled, unpublished Doctoral dissertation Draft. The Australian National University. Brock, F., T. Higham, P. Ditchfield, and C.B. Ramsey. 2010. Current Sayavongkhamdy T. 1998. Recent Archaeological Research in Laos. pretreatment methods for AMS radiocarbon dating at the Oxford Unpublished Paper presented at the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Asso- Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU). Radiocarbon 52 (1): ciation Conference, Melaka, Malaysia, June 1998. 103–112. Shewan L, O’Reilly D. eds. 2019. Madeleine Colani’s megaliths of Chang, N. 2001. Personal Ornaments in Thai Prehistory: Nong Nor, upper Laos. Barcaray International Publishing, London. ISBN Ban Lum Khao & Noen U-Loke. Doctoral Thesis, University of Otago, New Zealand. Shewan, L., O’Reilly, D., Armstrong, R., Toms, P., Webb, J., Bea- Colani, M. 1935. Mégalithes du Haut-Laos. 2 volumes. Publications van, N., Luangkhoth, T., Wood, J., Halcrow, S., Domett, K. and de l’école francaişe d’Extrême-Orient nos 25, 26. Van Den Bergh, J., 2021. Dating the megalithic culture of Laos: Domett, K., J. Newton, D. O’Reilly, N. Tayles, L. Shewan, and N. Radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence and U/Pb zircon Beavan. 2013. Cultural Modification of the Dentition in Prehis- results. PloS one, 16(3), https:// doi. org/ 10. 1371/ jour n al. pone. toric Cambodia. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 23: 02471 67 274–286. https:// doi. org/ 10. 1002/ oa/ 1245. Skopal, N., S. Bounxaythip, L. Shewan, D. O’Reilly, T. Luangkhoth, Dzung, L.T.M. 2009. Sa huynh regional and inter-regional interactions and J. Van Den Bergh. 2020. Jars of the jungle: A report on newly in the thu bon valley, Quang Nam province, central vietnam. Bul- discovered and documented megalithic jar sites in Lao People’s letin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association 29: 68–75. Democratic Republic. 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(a) Plain of Jars Archaeological Landscape: résumé de l’état de nos connaissances sur la préhistoire et sur Heritage Management Plan. Unpublished Report to UNESCO and l’ethnologie des races anciennes dans l’Extréme-Orient méridi- the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism onal, Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, vol. X, fasc. Van Den Bergh, J. n.d. (b) Mission Report Site One. Unpublished 1 Hanoi. Report to UNESCO and the Ministry of Information, Culture Newton, J., and Domett, K. 2017. The Biocultural Context Of Dental and Tourism. Modification In Prehistoric Southeast Asia In A World View of Willman, J.C., L. Shackelford, and F. Demeter. 2016. Incisor ablation Bioculturally Modified Teeth, edited by S. E. Burnett and J. D. among the late upper paleolithic people of Tam Hang (Northern Irish. University Press of Florida, pp. 159–181. Laos): Social identity, mortuary practice, and oral health. Ameri- Nitta, E. 1996. Comparative study on the jar burial traditions in Viet- can Journal of Physical AnthropolOgy 160 (3): 519–528. https:// nam, Thailand and Laos. Bulletin of the Department of Archaeol- doi. org/ 10. 1002/ ajpa. 22988. ogy, Faculty of Letters, Kagoshima University 43:1–19. Wooton, W., Russell, B., & Rockwell, P. 2013. ‘Stoneworking Tools O’Reilly, D., L. Shewan, K. Domett, J. Newton, D. Evans, V. Voeurn, and Toolmarks (Version 1.0)’, The Art of Making in Antiquity: and N. Beavan. 2015. The Excavation of Phum Sophy 2009–2010: Stoneworking in the Roman World, viewed 15 June 2020, <http:// An iron age site in Northwest Cambodia. Journal of Indo-Pacific www . ar t of making. ac. uk/ conte nt/ essay s/ 2- s t one wor ki ng- t ools- Archaeology 39: 57–73. a n d t o o l m a r k s - w- wo o t t o n - b - r u s se l l - p - r o ck w e l l / > .  Accessed O’Reilly, D., L. Shewan, K. Domett, and S. An. 2020. Revisiting Prei March 1, 2022 Khmeng: The Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement and Cemetery in Cambodia. Asian Perspectives 59: 33–60. 1 3 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Asian Archaeology Springer Journals

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Abstract

In 2020 a Lao/Australian archaeological research team revisited one of the largest megalithic jar sites in Laos, Site 1, and undertook excavations in an effort to more fully understand the ritual practice at the site. This paper reviews previous research undertaken at the site and describes the recent excavation which revealed evidence of secondary burial practice dating to the 8th to thirteenth centuries. The research confirms the use of Site 1 as a burial site where multiple individuals were interred in secondary burials in shared mortuary contexts. Keywords Megaliths · Archaeology · Laos 1 Introduction the topsoil comprises limestone (in areas, a Fengcong karst landscape), siltstone and sandstone bedrock and to the west, The megalithic jar sites, often collectively referred to as the outcrops of rhyolite have been identified and to the east, fault Plain of Jars, are located in northern Laos, predominantly in bounded graben. Granite is also found on the plateau (Van Xieng Khouang with some in neighbouring provinces. These Den Bergh n.d. a). The jar sites are found over an area of sites comprise large, hollowed stone receptacles fashioned more than 10,000 km , with 129 sites now confirmed, found from various types of stone including sandstone, breccia, mostly atop hills, or in mountainous locations. The number limestone, conglomerate and granite. The raw material for of jars vary with between one and more than 400 jars in the jars comes from the local area and quarries have been some locations. The jars were first explored archaeologically identified near some sites. The plateau on which most of the by the French scholar Madeleine Colani (1935). jar sites are located comprises rolling terrain interspersed Since 2016 a joint Lao-Australian research team has with hills and shallow river valleys. The geology beneath undertaken documentation and excavation at several mega- lithic jar sites in north-central Laos (O’Reilly et al. 2019a; O’Reilly et al. 2019b; Skopal et al. 2020) with excavations having been undertaken at Site 1 (O’Reilly et al. 2019a), Site Dougald O’Reilly and Louise Shewan contributed equally. 52, (O’Reilly et al. 2019b) and at a third site 12 km from Site * Dougald O’Reilly 1, called Site 2 ( O’Reilly et al. 2022b) (Fig. 1). dougald.oreilly@anu.edu.au Site 1 was first excavated by the authors in 2016 (O’Reilly et  al. 2019a) and in 2020 the authors returned to the site School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia to expand excavations there. Site 1 comprises five groups of large jars, mostly of sandstone and conglomerate and School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia hundreds of quartz-rich breccia boulders scattered around a limestone cave. Group 1 has been excavated in the past (by Department of Heritage, Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism, Vientiane, Laos Colani and Sayavongkhamdy) but activity since the 1970s has considerably disturbed the archaeological contexts. For College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia this reason the authors focused their efforts on the largest and less disturbed group of jars at the site, Group 2. Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Department of Aviation, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 1 Map of Laos showing locations of sites mentioned in the text Here we review previous research undertaken in Group 2 review the research focussed on Group 2 in this paper as at Site 1 and present the findings from the excavations under - our recent research was focussed there. The first excava- taken in 2020 including the discovery of four mortuary con- tions were undertaken by Madeleine Colani in the 1930s texts which contained the remains of at least 12 individuals. (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019). After a lacuna of several decades, a minor excavation was undertaken by Eiji Nitta (1996) and later by Thongsa Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) in the 2 Previous research in group 2, site 1 1990s. Julie Van Den Bergh (n.d. b) conducted minimal rescue operations at the site in 2007. Site 1 comprises five groups of jars (Fig.  2), the first group of 60 jars is located on a small hill at the north of the site, while the largest group (227 jars) lies to the west of this 3 Colani and forms a large crescent of jars which faces a limestone hill with a large cave to the east. Groups 3 (12 jars) and 4 In Group 2 (Fig. 2), Colani excavated in three locations. It (four jars) lie south of Group 2 and Group 5 (13 jars) lies is difficult now, to ascertain the exact location of Colani’s at the highest elevation to the south of Group 1. Prior to (1935 v.2:35) excavations but she reported that digging the recent research at Site 1, four archaeological investiga- under the jars proved to be “almost invariably fruitless”. In tions have been conducted at the site. While some investi- her excavations in Group 2, Colani reports finding a num- gations have been undertaken elsewhere at the site we will ber of earthenware vessels, some of which had a coarse 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 2 Map of Site 1, Xieng Khouang, Laos. Icons in red represent the location of excava- tion units glaze (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019). The ceramic vessels are One of the pits contained a 60 cm tall, glazed and incised described as sub-cylindrical, some containing fragments of ceramic jar with a lid. The jar contained fragments of skull, bone. femur and humerus and three teeth. Nitta (1996) asserts that As well as these sub-cylindrical vessels, Colani found the pits are likely contemporaneous to or earlier than the small ceramic vessels, not exceeding 5 cm in height, which megalithic jar emplacement. He suggests that the megalithic resemble the large megalithic jars in form. Other artefacts jars, pit and ceramic jar burials belong to the late first mil- discovered included bowls, ear discs with concave edges, lennium AD, “made around the ninth to tenth century AD” ceramic weights and beads, carnelian and glass beads, arte- (Nitta 1996:17). facts of bronze and iron including a chisel (23 cm long), tanged knives, ear-pendants and bangles, and spherical bronze bells decorated with a spiral design. Following the 5 1996 Excavations work of Colani there was a hiatus in archaeological research at Jar sites until the mid-1990s. Sayavongkhamdy excavated in various locations at Site 1 in 1996 (Sayavongkhamdy and Bellwood 2000) but here we describe only the excavations in Group 2 as they were adja- cent to the excavation undertaken in 2020. 4 1994 Excavations Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) excavated a 3 × 3 m area around four megalithic jars (Fig. 3). The unit was centred on Jars Nitta (1996) excavated four intersecting trenches around 184 (re-labelled 01,020,128) and 187 (01,020,127) and ori- a jar decorated with a carved human figure (https:// plain- ented north–south. The first few cm of excavation revealed of- jars. org/ jars/ 01020 188/) in Group 2. This work exposed two areas of sandstone chips and irregular blocks. Sayavong- seven pits, each covered by a flat stone. Unburned human khamdy (n.d.) identified 11 pits, six of which sat beneath bones and teeth were found in these pits, some of these either limestone cobbles (n = 2), pavements of sandstone remains were associated with iron knives and glass beads. chips (n = 2) or sandstone blocks (n = 2), one of which was 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 3 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 1. Megalithic jars represented in dark grey. F = feature, cat. = catalogued artefact, circled dots = elevation above sea level, L = limestone, C = ceramic, sst = sandstone. Dotted line represents 1996 excavation carved depicting a naked couple. Artefacts found in these 6 2004 Rescue excavations pits comprise miniature pots, ceramic sherds, two iron ban- gles, a bronze bell, carnelian and unidentified stone beads, During the UXO clearance in Group 2, five units were exca- nephrite beads, glass beads and fragments of charcoal. In vated based on the discovery of what appeared to be burial one, a stone pendant was found which is similar to the pen- assemblages (Van Den Bergh and Luangaphay n.d.). dant found by Colani at Ban Xot (Colani 1935 vol.2 83). In the first trench excavated, coarse, glazed, sherds dec- Another pit contained a large, cylindrical, ceramic vessel orated with incised lines were found in association with beneath a pavement of sandstone chips. No bone was found burned human bone and a bi-point lithic artefact. The sec- inside this vessel but it is thought by Sayavongkhamdy to ond trench revealed three separate contexts, one comprising represent a secondary burial. This thin-walled vessel was a concentration of coarse, thin-walled ceramic sherds and flat-bottomed and red in colour. a small, crushed, pot, similar to that found by Sayavong- Human remains were found in two of the pits, one with khamdy (1998:9–10) and Colani (1935. pp.41- 43). Charcoal just a human tooth but another containing two human skulls, (A6146) from this context dated 935 ± 50BP (1018–1210 teeth and four long bones sitting atop a charcoal lens. Char- calAD 95.4%). The second context was found beneath a coal and bone was collected during these excavations and a quartz-veined breccia boulder and contained similar coarse sample of charcoal (S33-ANU) taken from the bottom of one ceramic sherds, bone fragments and stone artefacts. The of the pits at 72 cm of depth, returned a date of 8150 ± 90 third context in this trench contained incised and glazed BP (7468–6827 BC). A fragment of the skull (lab num- ceramic sherds and a large carved stone. The latter sat ber lost) from the same pit was AMS dated and returned a directly atop two ceramic burial jars. A third trench revealed date of 3410 ± 190 BP (2282–1265 BC). Another pit con- ceramics and the fourth revealed the presence of two ceramic tained charcoal (ANU-10767, ANU-10764) which returned vessels, interpreted as burial jars by Van Den Bergh. Only dates of 920 ± 50 BP (1027–1220 AD) and 8320 ± 100 BP one of these vessels was removed. The fifth unit of excava- (7577–7079 BC) respectively (Sayavongkhamdy n.d.). tion exposed a modern, military bugle. 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos artefacts associated with the conflict in Laos in the 1970s, 7 2016 Excavation three earthenware ceramic sherds and two coins, one with a string of beads attached. One of the coins appears to be The authors excavated in three locations at Site 1 in 2016 a French colonial-era 20 cent piece dating to 1906 and the (O’Reilly et al. 2019a) leading to the discovery of secondary other is dated 1926 but these may be reproductions. There burials of human bone (in Unit 1) beneath a large sandstone were no features evident (Fig. 3). disc and associated with limestone blocks, pavements of The excavation of the second spit (Fig. 4) revealed the chipped sandstone, secondary burial of human remains in presence of 25 limestone and eight irregular sandstone boul- ceramic vessels (in Unit 3) and, for the first time, a primary ders of varying size, and fragments of sandstone disc, one burial of two individuals (in Unit 2). A minimum number of found in the middle of the unit, and another on the eastern 18 individuals were identified from these mortuary contexts baulk (these did not match). Several of the boulders were representing the remains of individuals spanning all ages and labelled as features where they were found in groups. Along both sexes with over 60 per cent of the mortuary population the western baulk of the unit a large scatter of gravel and being younger than 15 years of age. This number of individ- oblong, rather crudely made, ceramic beads were found. uals and the number of very young individuals, suggesting A number of earthenware sherds were found in this spit a high fertility rate, buried in an area of 49m may indicate along with several broken ceramic vessels. Other artefacts either a growing population at the time of their interment in the second spit comprised a basalt flake, three hammer - (O’Reilly et al. 2019a), and/or burial reuse. stones, a ceramic weight, an iron chisel, a spindle whorl, an The 2016 excavations exposed material culture similar iron bangle fragment, a cylindrical clay object, possibly an to that found during previous research at Site 1, including ear plug or gaming piece, and a carnelian bead. earthenware ceramic sherds and complete miniature ceramic Spit 3 revealed the presence of 11 features which ‘jars’ which resemble the large stone jars of the site. Other appeared to be pits, apparent after the removal of limestone finds included lithic pendants, ceramic ear discs and glass boulders which sat atop them (Fig. 5). One of these appar- and carnelian beads. The 2016 excavations also confirmed ent pits was found beneath and around one of the partial that the boulders found at Site 1 served to demarcate sub- sandstone discs which was placed atop a limestone slab. The surface interments, as did the carved sandstone discs. The matrix around the limestone was gravelly and the soil under charcoal and bone that was retrieved from the excavated the limestone was dark brown (7.5YR 4/4). A number of areas indicate that the mortuary activity took place between artefacts were found within this feature including ceramic the eighth and thirteenth centuries AD (see O’Reilly et al. earthenware sherds, found beneath the limestone slab, clay 2019a for details of excavations). beads, a small piece of bone and some charcoal. Two sam- ples of charcoal were taken from the feature for radiocarbon dating (see below). Several of these features were revealed 8 2020 Excavation campaign to be secondary burials. On the east side of the unit, another feature of darker With the aim of gaining a more comprehensive understand- (7.5YR 4/4), gravelly soil was apparent near Jar 01020126 in ing of the use of Site 1 and based on the finds made by which sat three large and one small limestone blocks. Some Sayavongkhamdy in 1996, in 2020, the authors decided to earthenware sherds and a small ceramic globular vessel in expand the area of his excavation. This unit was named Unit the east baulk. Upon removal of the limestone block, human teeth and bone fragments were discovered and the feature A 10 × 3 m unit was established adjacent to a line of four was labelled as Burial 1 (Fig. 5). megalithic jars which are aligned running north-east at 30° To the north-west of Burial 1 were found three pieces of (Fig. 3). Unit 4 overlapped slightly with the north-west cor- limestone, a larger, square slab and two smaller irregular ner of the unit excavated by Sayavongkhamdy. pieces, in the middle of the unit. Human bone was found in Excavation was undertaken using arbitrary 10 cm spits association with the limestone and this feature was subse- and layers, the latter designated by changes in the soil colour. quently labelled as Burial 2 (Figs. 5 and 6). A few ceramic The upper-most layer was designated as Layer 1, spit 1. Fea- sherds were recovered around the limestone. tures uncovered in each spit were labelled sequentially and In the north of the unit, a large collection (n = 14) of lime- are denoted herein with the layer, spit and feature number. stone blocks of varying sizes sat upon a darker, gravelly soil The soil removed from the unit was sieved through 5 mm (5YR 3/2) flecked with charcoal and small pieces of quartz. screens. A sample of this charcoal was taken for radiocarbon dat- A 10 cm spit was removed from Unit 4 revealing a num- ing (see below). Originally labelled 1:3 F8, the name was ber of dispersed sandstone pebbles. Few artefacts were changed to Burial 3 upon discovery of human bone beneath discovered aside from a piece of quartz crystal, military one of the pieces of limestone (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8). More 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 4 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 2 Fig. 5 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 3 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 6 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 4 small limestone slabs, bone and ceramic shers appeared Five further pit features were found, two were devoid of as excavation continued. In total, four fragmentary human artefacts and three contained earthenware ceramic sherds. skulls were uncovered in the feature as well as some frag- Elsewhere in the unit at this level were found some ceramic mentary bone. sherds, a hammerstone and an iron fragment. Near Jar 01020130 another feature named 1:3 F3 In spit four, two further features were revealed (Fig. 6). extended into the unit—the soil was gravelly and different in The first was in the east baulk near the southeast corner colour (7.5YR 4/3) to the surrounding matrix (7.5YR 4/6). of the unit adjacent to the broken sandstone disc. This There was some red (10R 4/8) clay mixed into the feature’s circular pit was visible due to a differentiation in soil tex- matrix indicating it had been excavated, in the past, into ture (fine gravel) and contained four bronze bells, a bronze the natural substrate. This large feature encompassed a sub- bangle and a clay bead. stantial limestone slab and some smaller limestone chunks. The second feature in this spit was also on the east Found within the feature were a broken ceramic vessel and baulk near the northeast corner of the unit and comprised some earthenware sherds. The two limestone blocks were three pieces of limestone protruding from the baulk. The removed from the feature and three human skulls and long soil in this area was of a slightly different colour (5YR 4/4) bones were found within the pit and it was renamed Burial to the surrounding matrix and within the feature, ceramic 4 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9). A fragment of this bone was sampled sherds were found. Beneath a piece of limestone, some for radiocarbon dating (see below) and a piece of charcoal poorly preserved, unidentifiable, bone was encountered from the burial context was also sampled. and some earthenware ceramic sherds. One other feature (1:3 F9), located beneath a limestone After removing a further 10 cm of matrix in Unit 4 (spit block, contained bone and a small ceramic vessel. It was 5), two small circular features were apparent and Burials not designated as a burial due to the inability to definitively 2, 3 and 4 were fully exposed (Fig. 7). One of the circular identify the bone as human. features, 25 cm in depth, contained flecks of charcoal and earthenware sherds and a thin layer of lighter coloured gravel. The second feature comprised mottled red (10R 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. Fig. 7 Plan view of Unit 4 at Site 1, Layer 1, spit 5 Fig. 8 Photograph of Burial 3, Unit 4 at Site 1 Fig. 9 Photograph of Burial 4, Unit 4 at Site 1 4/8) clay in which four pieces of earthenware ceramic were 9 Burials found. After the removal of 1:5, there was a notable change in the The excavation of the four burial contexts revealed that soil colour (10R 4/8) across Unit 4 and the matrix became a minimum number of 12 individuals were interred in more clayey. Below this point the matrix was archaeologi- the excavated area, distributed across four mortuary con- cally sterile, confirmed by the excavation of test pits. texts. Burial 1, contained three permanent teeth and bone 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Table 1 Radiocarbon dates Provenance in Unit 4 WK# Material Date BP cal BC/AD obtained during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. Calibrated 1:3 Feature 51194 charcoal 975 ± 25 BP 1021–1158 AD radiocarbon ages are presented 1:3 Feature 51200 charcoal 828 ± 25 BP 1175–1268 AD at 95.4% confidence, using Under stone jar 01020130 51199 charcoal 1059 ± 61 BP 774–1156 AD OxCal v.4.4 and the IntCal 20 calibration curve (Brock et al. 1:3 Feature 8 Burial 3 51,203 charcoal 867 ± 26 BP 1051–1257 AD 2010; Ramsey 2017) 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51198 charcoal 864 ± 28 BP 1052–1260 AD 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51202 charcoal 1005 ± 25 BP 991–1150 AD 1:3 Feature 3 Burial 4 51262 human bone 1144 ± 23 773–987 AD fragments, but, given the range of tooth wear, it was likely requires detailed investigation. Three other crania were not these three teeth belonged to at least two individuals. Bur- able to be assessed for age or sex but at least one was adult ial 2 held only a small collection of likely human bone and a further was possibly subadult. The dental remains fragments. demonstrated evidence of caries, again commonly cemento- Burial 3 (Fig. 8) represented a MNI of five people based enamel junction and interproximally located. There were on the presence of five left petrous temporal bones and sup - also cases of periapical infection. One of the tibiae was from ported by the dental remains present. The remains, compris- a subadult, probably an older child or young adolescent. ing four crania, a range of dental remains and incomplete The location of the burial pits containing the secondary cranial and postcranial bones, are disarticulated. Two cra- burials of multiple individuals did not seem to have any nia are represented by fragments only and are of indeter- direct or consistent relationship to the location of the mega- minate age and sex. A maxilla and mandible belong to an lithic jars at Site 1. Research undertaken in 2016 (O’Reilly 11.5–13.5-year-old, one of the crania is possibly that of an et al. 2019a) and unpublished reports from previous excava- adult female (age at death, unknown), and another is from tions (Sayavongkhamdy n.d.; Van Den Bergh n.d. b) seem to a young adult of unknown sex. The latter cranium also had indicate a relationship between the interment of bundles of possible evidence of dental ablation or agenesis of both the bone and limestone slabs and sandstone discs at Site 1. The maxillary lateral incisors and the maxillary canines. This site also contains hundreds of quartz-rich granitoid boulders symmetrical pattern of loss is more suggestive of inten- which seem to have been used to mark the location of subter- tional ablation, an activity known to have occurred in the ranean ceramic jars containing human remains, often those late Pleistocene site of Tam Hang in northern Laos (Willman of infants. It is unclear whether the secondary burials (both et al. 2016), as well as a range of sites in prehistoric Cam- bone bundles and ceramic jar burials) are contemporaneous bodia, Vietnam and Thailand (Domett et al. 2013; Newton with the megalithic jars but this issue may be clarified as and Domett 2017). The dental remains also indicated some Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dates are cur- people suffered from caries, periapical infections and ante- rently being prepared. mortem tooth loss. One mandible, for example, had lost six teeth antemortem, all first and second molars as well the left third molar and the right second premolar. Caries lesions 10 Dating were often found at the cemento-enamel junction and inter- proximally. Fragmented postcranial remains comprised parts Six charcoal samples and one bone sample were taken for of humerii, radii, ulnae, femora and tibiae. One adult femur radiocarbon dating from four contexts during the excavation had a possible peri or post-mortem cut mark (15.4 mm in of Unit 4. The results are presented in Table 1. length) on the lateral aspect just proximal to the midpoint of the shaft which requires further investigation. Burial 4 (Fig. 9) included a minimum of four individuals 11 Discussion based on the presence of four crania and included a range of cranial, dental and postcranial remains, including hand The purpose of excavating a fourth unit at Site 1 was to and foot bones, but with no clear anatomical articulation explore further the mortuary traditions identified in previous evident. The remains in Burial 4 were uncovered in a sin- excavations and build on the discoveries in the same area gle layer whereas those in Burial 3 were in layers within a made by Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.). In previous excavations deeper, but narrower pit. One of the crania and one of the (O’Reilly et al. 2019a) there appeared to be a relationship mandibles in this burial likely belong to adult females. The between boulders, limestone slabs, discs and secondary female cranium had a 62.5 mm peri- or post-mortem cut interments (either bundles of bone or ceramic jars containing mark across the posterior aspect of the left parietal bone that human remains) and the 2020 excavations were undertaken 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. The discovery of a probable chisel during the excavation of Unit 4 at Site 1 is of considerable interest. The chisel-like artefact found during the 2020 excavations measures 71 mm in length and the tip is 3.9 mm wide but, as the implement is corroded, the actual tip width is expected to have been narrower (Fig. 10). As such it may represent a ‘point chisel’ used to remove stone from an object after it has been quar- ried (Wooton et al. 2013). This type of tool tends to leave sharp, narrow, and well-defined marks as they are struck along the rock surface with a hammer or mallet (Wooton et al. 2013). The megalithic jars at Sites 1, 2 and 3 and at the quarry sites 8 and 21 were investigated by Tener (2020) to assess the method of jar creation. Tener made moulds of the manufacturing scars taken from the interior of several jars at these sites for comparative purposes. The scars on Fig. 10 Iron implement possibly representing a chisel found in Unit 4 the jars at the sites investigated by Tener (2020) are nearly at Site 1 during 2020 excavations identical in size to the tip of the chisel (< 0.5 mm differ - ence) lending credence to the identification of this object as a chisel. Colani also reports finding a socketed “denticulated to confirm this hypothesis. Here we will review some of the bronze chisel” at Site 1, noting tool marks on many jars notable items of material culture excavated during the 2020 likely to have been made by a chisel (Shewan and O’Reilly research before turning to discuss the human remains found 2019:140, 497). and the dating of these contexts. Fig. 11 Artefacts recovered during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. A. clay beads, B. opaque glass beads, C. copper bangle, D. Carnelian bead, E. bronze bells with coil designs 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos Fig. 12 Artefacts recovered during the excavation of Unit 4, Site 1. A. globular earthenware vessel similar to those found by Colani, B. perforated earthen- ware discs, C. earthenware ves- sels possibly representing the megalithic jars in miniature, D. earthenware vessel with a bowl placed atop The other items of material culture found in Unit 4 at Site The items of material culture recovered from Unit 4 are 1 include jewellery. Dozens of clay beads (Fig. 11a) were similar to those found during previous excavations at Site 1 found scattered over a large area in Unit 4 (Fig. 4). These and to other megalithic jar sites excavated by the authors in are rough, oblong (c. 2 × 1 cm), earthenware beads with a Laos (Sites 2 and 52). The bronze bells are similar to those large perforation. Other items of jewellery include opaque, found at Site 2 (O’Reilly et al. 2022a, 2022b) and Colani terracotta-coloured glass beads (Fig. 11b) and a robust lead- found similar bells at the site of Ban Xot, Lat Sen, Ban Soua, alloyed copper bangle (Fig. 11c), (Sullivan pers. comm. Ban Na Seo and Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:778, 755; 2022). A carnelian bead (Fig.  11d) and three spherical 734, 743, 776). She also recovered a clay mould for pro- bronze bells (Fig. 11e) with a delicate filigree decoration on ducing bronze bells (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:759). They the exterior were also found. have also been found in excavations in Lao Pako (Källén Hundreds of earthenware sherds were recovered during 2004), Sepon (Chang pers. comm. 2022) in Laos, Sa Huynh the excavation of Unit 4, as were several partially complete in Vietnam (Dzung 2009), Cambodia (Mansuy 1923, pl. ceramic vessels including a globular vessel with a glaze VIII, O’Reilly et al. 2015, O’Reilly et al. 2020) and Thai- (Fig. 12a), three ceramic discs, identified as spindle whorls land (Chang 2001; Higham et al. 2007) at sites dating to the (Fig. 12b), several small semi-cylindrical vessels (Fig. 12c) Bronze and Iron Ages. and one small vessel with a larger bowl placed atop it as a Colani reports finding a nearly identical copper bangle to lid (Fig. 12d). that found in 2020 in the cave at Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly Other items found include quartz crystals (n = 2), a basalt 2019:776) as well as carnelian beads (Shewan and O’Reilly flake, a whetstone, hammerstones (n = 5), and iron bangle 2019:616) and opaque, terracotta-coloured, glass beads fragments (n = 2). (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:742) and beads similar to the clay beads (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:739). The ceramics found during the excavation of Unit 4 also have parallels from previous excavations. Glazed, globu- lar pots, similar to those mentioned above, were identified The bangle is currently undergoing conservation at the Grimwade by Colani at Site 1 which she termed either cooking or Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne. 1 3 D. O’Reilly et al. cremation pots, noting they contained “fragments of …fire- (Shewan et al. 2021). Optically Stimulated Luminescence blackened bone.” (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019: 403, 783). dates, obtained from sediments from beneath the jars at So too, did Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:743) dis- Site 2, suggest the emplacement of the megaliths as early cover similar miniature pots resembling the large stone jars as the 2nd millennium BC (Shewan et al. 2021). How the in form at Site 1. The ceramic vessel with a bowl set atop secondary burials (both bundle and ceramic jar) relate to it, found in Unit 4, may have parallels to mouth-to-mouth each other and to the megalthic jars requires further inves- pots discovered by Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:472, tigation. OSL samples taken during the 2020 excavation 736) at Thao Kham. The discs found in 2020 resemble what may aid in this endeavour, as might further radiocarbon Colani calls ear plugs but do not have a groove on the outer dating of bone should the ceramic jar burials render sam- edge which would have served to keep the ornament in place ples suitable for dating. What is evident is that this site in the ear nor do they have decorations as those found by has produced divergent mortuary practices (primary, sec- Colani do (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:739). ondary and ceramic jar burial) and has maintained ritual Unit 4 was also found to contain what are likely ham- significance for an extended period of time. merstones, spherical rocks with evidence of percussive damage. Similar objects are mentioned by Colani (She- wan and O’Reilly 2019:215) who found them in the cave 12 Conclusion at Site 1. Whetstones, found in Unit 4 are also noted by Colani from San Hin Oume, Lat Sen, and Na Nong (She- The excavation of Unit 4 at Site 1 reached a depth of c. wan and O’Reilly 2019:225, 466, 468) as well as Site 1 50 cm when the natural substrate, undisturbed by anthro- (O’Reilly et al. 2019a, 2019b). pogenic activity, was met. Similar results to those reported While Colani (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019) does not by Sayavongkhamdy (n.d.) during his excavations around report bundles of human bone from her excavations at the same jars were found, a series of pits capped with the jar sites, she does, however, note the significance of worn limestone slabs, some of which contained human limestone slabs in the matrix surrounding the megalithic remains. These comprise the remains of several individu- jars at Site 1 (Shewan and O’Reilly 2019:423). During als of varying age and represent secondary burials. The the excavation of Unit 1, Site 1 in 2016 (O’Reilly et al. matrix around these pits returned a range of artefacts, 2019a) human remains beneath limestone slabs were mostly ceramic sherds but some near-complete earthen- found in three areas comprising the remains of 12 indi- ware vessels, whetstones, items of personal adornment, viduals. One of these bundles was found atop limestone spindle whorls and items that may relate to the carving slabs beneath a large sandstone disc. A smaller fragment of stone including an iron chisel and hammerstones. Only of a sandstone disc was uncovered during the excavation a few metallic items were found but this result should be of Unit 4 which sat atop limestone slabs with unidentifi- viewed with caution as the upper 25 cm of the matrix at able bone between them which may represent a similar Site 1 had been cleared of UXO and all metal detected was mortuary practice. removed in the mid-2000s. The dates obtained from the excavation of Unit 4, fall- The result of this excavation reveals that there is con- ing in the 8th to thirteenth centuries are, largely, congru- sistency in the mortuary practice in Group 2 at Site 1 with ous to those obtained in the 2016 excavation at Site 1. secondary burials being reported in the group in previous In Unit 1 radiocarbon dates also ranged from the 8th to excavations in which multiple individuals were interred the thirteenth century although two very early dates were together in pits covered by limestone slabs or, less fre- returned as well. Unit 2 returned dates from the 9th to quently, sandstone discs. The material culture also is thirteenth centuries, again with two very early dates and consistent. Unit 3 returned dates from the 10th to twelfth centuries Acknowledgements This paper is dedicated to our friend and col- with four very early dates and a date from human bone league, Thongsa Sayavongkhamdy, a pioneer in Lao archaeology, who that feel between eighth and tenth centuries (O’Reilly sadly passed away in 2022 prior to its publication. We extend our grati- et  al. 2019a). The early dates from these contexts are tude to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MoICT), the Xieng Khouang Provincial governor and District chiefs. hypothesised to relate to earlier contexts which were dis- turbed in the excavation of the mortuary contexts. Exca- Funding Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and vations at Site 2 also returned radiocarbon dates but in its Member Institutions Funding for the research was provided by the some instances, these were earlier than those found at Site Australian Research Council (DP150101164). 1. In Unit 1 at Site 2 dates ranged from the eighth century Data Availability The datasets generated during and/or analysed dur- to the twelfth century (two late dates were also returned, ing the current study are available from the corresponding author on possibly related to recent activity at the site). Units 2 and reasonable request. 3 at Site 2 returned dates from the 7th to eighth century 1 3 Secondary burial practice at megalithic jar site 1, Plain of Jars Laos O’Reilly, D., L. Shewan, T. Luangkhoth, A. Butphachit, and M. Kham- Declarations phouvong. 2022b. Further Excavations Among the Megaliths: Research at Plain of Jars Site 2 in Laos. Journal of the Indo- Conflict of Interest On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author Pacific Prehistory Association 46 (1): 1–16. states that there is no conflict of interest. O’Reilly D., Shewan L., Domett K., Halcrow S.E. and Luangkhoth T. 2019a. Excavating among the megaliths: recent research at the Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attri- ‘Plain of Jars’ site 1 in Laos. Antiquity. Aug; 93(370):970–89. bution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adapta- https:// doi. org/ 10. 15184/ aqy. 2019. 102. tion, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long O’Reilly D., Shewan L., Khamphouvong M. and Butphachit A. 2019b. as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, Research at megalithic jar site 52 and the discovery of new jar provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes sites in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. Asian Archaeology. were made. The images or other third party material in this article are https:// doi. org/ 10. 1007/ s41826- 019- 00023-0. included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated O’Reilly, D., Shewan L., Khamphouvong, M., Butphachit, A., Luang- otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in khoth, T., Skopal N. and Bounxaythip S. 2022a. Ban Pha Tai: the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not The excavation and dating of a buried megalithic jar in Xieng permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will Khouang, Lao PDR. Archaeological Research in Asia. https://doi. need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a org/ 10. 1016/j. ara. 2021. 100336. copy of this licence, visit http://cr eativ ecommons. or g/licen ses/ b y/4.0/ . Ramsey, C.B. 2017. Methods for summarizing radiocarbon datasets. Radiocarbon 59 (6): 1809–1833. Sayavongkhamdy, T., and P. Bellwood. 2000. 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Revisiting Prei March 1, 2022 Khmeng: The Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement and Cemetery in Cambodia. Asian Perspectives 59: 33–60. 1 3

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Asian ArchaeologySpringer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 2023

Keywords: Megaliths; Archaeology; Laos

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