Vientiane (VNA) – The Plain of Jars, a megalithicarchaeological landscape in Xiangkhoang Plateau, northeastern Laos, has beennamed as a new World Heritage site by UNESCO.
It is Laos’ third World Heritage after the Town of LuangPrabang, recognised in 1995, and Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlementswithin the Champasak Cultural Landscape, listed in 2001.
The UNESCO recognition of the Plain of Jars was officiallyannounced during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku, theRepublic of Azerbaijan last week.
The Plain of Jars gets its name from more than 2,100tubular-shaped megalithic stone jars used for funerary practices in the IronAge, according to UNESCO.
This serial site of 15 components contains large carvedstone jars, stone discs, secondary burials, tombstones, quarries and funeraryobjects dating from 500 BCE to 500 CE. The jars and associated elements are themost prominent evidence of the Iron Age civilisation that made and used themuntil it disappeared, around 500 CE. –VNA