In the northern Lao province of Xieng Khouang - where the Annam mountain range spread its green wings - is one of the most amazing places on our planet, which has fascinated several generations of archaeologists.
First discovered in the 30s of the last century, it consists of platforms (there are more than sixty), lined with cylindrical, oval and rectangular stone vessels, shaped like huge pottery. So it was called - the Valley of the Pitchers. During the Vietnam War, this part of Laos was subjected to massive bombing many times, and it is no longer possible to return this place to its original appearance.
Three thousand stone vessels date from the Iron Age (500 BC). The height of the largest "jugs" is almost 3 meters, and the weight is up to 6 tons! There are also small ones, 50 cm. The material used for their manufacture was very different. Most are made of sandstone, but there are also limestone (calcined coral) and granite.
Each jug has special rims - most likely for the lids. This hypothesis is confirmed by stone discs that are found nearby. However, there are not so many of them, so historians decided that some of the covers were wooden and time destroyed them. All covers are different. On the surface of some, circles are carved, others with a tubercle in the middle.
The origin of the pitchers remains a mystery to this day. One thing is clear: the people who made huge products knew how to work with stone, to select tools that match each of the materials. Experts believe that in some cases special iron scissors were used. However, such a tool has not yet been found, so the hypothesis has not become a fact. Archaeologists managed to find only thin stone plates.
Perhaps this was the main tool. In any case, the work was extremely time consuming and took more than one year. In addition, there are no such rocks in the vicinity, which means that the stones were brought from somewhere. But where they were cut out and how such a weight was moved is also unknown.
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Almost nothing is known about the inhabitants of the valley. According to one of the local legends, the jugs were created by the race of giants, when King Khung Chung, after defeating his enemies, wanted to arrange a big holiday and needed vessels for a large amount of rice wine.
As for the purpose of such unusual jugs, here the opinions of archaeologists and anthropologists were divided. Some have suggested that the tanks may have been used to collect rainwater or store food. Others believe the point of view of the Frenchwoman Madeleine Colani is correct, who excavated back in the 1930s and found a cave with ash, bronze objects and tools in the vicinity.
Kolani concluded that the jugs were used as burial urns. The corpses of the deceased were left in vessels for decomposition and drying of soft tissues. Then the remains were removed and burned, making room for new bodies.
Over the years, archaeologists have accumulated many questions. Their work in the valley is progressing at a snail's pace, because this place is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Unexploded American shells are scattered over 35% of the entire area. Some of the bowls are split in two because trees have sprouted through them. Time is working against people, erasing the traces of ancient giants, leaving their story unsaid.
Elena Muravyova for neveroyatno.info