In the Phu Khao Mountains in southern Laos are the ancient ruins of Wat Phu (a Hindu temple of Khmer origin). The sanctuary is located at the foot of Mount Khao (1397 m).
Wat Phu.
At the location of the temple complex, you can see a stone with a very unusual carving. The imprint on the stone resembles a crocodile and can accommodate a human body.
The researchers suggested that the stone was used as an altar for the annual human sacrifice. Although the surviving structures date back to the XI-XIII centuries, the temple was in this place back in the 5th century.
If indeed sacrifices were made here, then this happened at an earlier time, when southern Laos was ruled by the Chenla Empire.
In the "History of Sui" of the 6th century, there is a mention that the sacrifice in the Chenla culture was performed every year and the description of this ceremony corresponds to the version that is mentioned in local folklore. The fact that this very history has been passed down from generation to generation in rural communities is of great importance.
And yet it is not completely clear what role the Crocodile stone played in this ceremony, if such was the case. The unique carving adds even more mystery to the stone.
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It is also known that in all of Laos and Cambodia nothing like this stone was found, writes atlasobscura.com.
If the Crocodile Stone was not intended for sacrifice, it remains a mystery: for what purpose was it used?