The mysterious valley of the jugs, Laos. Mysterious Valley of Jugs in Laos History of research of the valley of the jugs

In the center of Laos, there is one of the most mysterious places on our planet - the valley of the jugs. The valley itself would not be so remarkable if there were hundreds of huge jugs on its territory, which were created by people thousands of years ago!

The valley of the jugs is located in the field of Sianglukhuang and consists of several paradise sites, on which such unusual jugs are placed. Many such sites are scattered along the boundaries of Laos and Vietnam in the lower reaches of the Annam Range. In total, there are over 60 such sites in Laos. In addition, such a valley of the jugs can be found in Thailand and in the north of India.

The Mystery of the Valley adds the fact that none of the scientists can reliably say what kind of people or the tribe built all these pitchers and for what purpose! However, judging by the number of jugs in the valley, and there are about a thousand of them here, these vessels in the middle of the pure field were extremely important ...

Jugs are not only a lot, but they also differ much from each other. There are vessels with a height of up to three meters high and weighing more than six tone, and there are very small jugs. Most vessels have a rounded shape, but there are also rectangular.

There is still no accurate information about the purpose of these jugs. Scientists put forward the theory that they served as an ancient people as vessels for water storage. In addition, there are assumptions that the jugs could be used as burial vessels. In some jugs, various household items were found and bronze ornaments, which speaks in favor of the second theory. However, no remains in the jugs were found never ...

The local population has its own point of view to the question of the origin of the Valley of the Jugs. People believe that the giants were once on this earth, which were scattered along the glades of Laos their jugs.

The average age of jugs is estimated at 2 thousand years. The material from which jugs are made is a mixture of sandstone, granite and corals. This is rather curious, since these "ingredients" are almost no found near the sites.

For visiting tourists, only a few of the plots of the valley are open. The fact is that once the Sianghuang region was seriously bombarded by the US Air Force. Since then, several decades have passed, however, part of the territory is still devastated by unexploded charges.

Due to the risk of detonation of old charges in some areas of movement of tourists and studies of archaeologists are very limited. Of course, all this negatively affects the development of tourism in the region. Gradually, dangerous areas are purified from charges, but the pace of work carried out is not too high ...

wikipedia.org / SC147.

At the moment, the Lao is trying to receive the status of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Jugs Valley. Indeed, this place is not only very unusual, but also is of great interest to researchers. If the valley of the jugs is cleaned from unexploded shells, scientists will be able to fully explore the jugs and learn about their true purpose, and tourists will receive full access to such an interesting object!

The valley of the jugs is an undeclusive landmark of Laos. Thousands of giant megalithic vessels are scattered along the mountain valves and the lower footbrows of the Central Plain Plateau Sienagkhoang (Xiangkhoang) in the main mountain chain of Indochina. In the form of a vessel, more similar to the jugs, hence the name itself. They affect their size - up to 3 meters in height, and up to 6 tons weight.

Where is the valley of the jugs

The valley is located in the province of Sieneyghuang in the northern part of the country in the city of Pxonsavan.

Geographic coordinates 19.431047, 103.152298

general description

The valley has several separate sections with vessels. Total places of more than 90. They have their own rooms. And on each of them from one to 392 stone jugs. Their height varies from 1 to 3 meters. All as one carved from stone.

The jugs have a cylindrical shape, and the lower part is always wider than the top. The vessels do not have bas-reliefs and drawings, except for one jug on the main platform under the number 1. The silhouette of a person with raised hands is engraved outside the outside.

By the way, similar images are found in rock painting in the Gunxi Mountains (China) and are dating 5-2 centuries to our era.

Research, theories and legends of giant jugs

According to scientists, the age of jugs is about 1500 to 2500 years.

Since many jugs have a certain landing place at the top of the top, it is believed that their covers were originally closed. Several flat stone covers were found in the surrounding area. But it is assumed that the lids themselves were made of material, more susceptible to destruction than the jugs. Therefore, the covers are much less than vessels. Found covers contained bas-reliefs with images of tigers, frogs and monkeys.

One of the few preserved covers

Also found stone disks that differ from the covers. Perhaps they were pointers of boron sites.

It is worth noting that in the surrounding area five types of rocks were discovered: sandstone, granite, conglomerate, limestone and breccia. Most jugs are made of sandstone. It is assumed that the ancient masters used iron bits for the manufacture of these vessels, but no convincing evidence does not exist.

Archaeologists offer us a few hypotheses of the origin of the jugs.

Jugs as a burial place

According to one of the versions, the vessels are a kind of urn for burial or cremation.

In 1930, the French researcher Madeleine Kolani suggested that the jugs are associated with prehistoric methods of burial. Perhaps they took the cremation of bodies with the subsequent burial of the remains in a separate place.

In particular, she found a cave in the area of \u200b\u200bthe NO1 platform, which has limestone education. In the north-western part of it there is a natural hole, and at the top two artificial. These Holes of Kolani considered chimney for the crematorium. She also found materials in the cave in confirmation of the theory of cremation. In some jugs, colored glass beads were found, burned teeth and bone fragments. In the surrounding area, human bones were also found, fragments of ceramics, iron and bronze items and residues of charcoal. The bones and teeth inside the vessels indirectly prove cremation.

The research of Lao and Japanese archaeologists also partly confirmed the theory of Kolani.

By the way, in South India, similar gigantic funerals called Mudhumakkal Taji or Ehea-Taji were used. The bodies of the dead were placed in them sitting and together with personal goods and decorations. Such practice existed until 200 arab.
For Thai, Cambodian and Laos Kingdoms, it was characteristic of placing a corpse into a vessel. It was believed that so the soul gradually passes from the earthly world to the otherworld. Later, the body was burned, and the remains were buried to the ground.

Jugs as water tanks

There is also a version that these jugs were made as ordinary warehouses for water. The main function was to collect rainwater for wandering caravans. The fact is that in these places, drought occasionally occasionally, and the water reserves turned out to be likewise.

Beads found at the bottom of the jugs may have been a kind of caravantera, accompanied by rain prayers.

Legends of the Valley of Kuvshin

Local residents believe in the legend that the giants have long lived here, which these vessels did not seem huge at all.

Lao legends talk about the giants who inhabited this area. It was believed that they were ruled by the king named Khun Chun. The king led the brutal war with the neighbors, and when he won them, he ordered himself in honor of this event to create huge jugs for the preparation of the indiscreaded amount of Lao Lao in them (the traditional local rice wine is called).

In another version, it is said that the jugs were cast from natural materials, including clay, sand, sugar and animal products.

Local residents believed that the cave on the NO1 site was actually a stove, and that vessels were created there, and not at all carved out of the stone.

Jugs Valley in Tourism

In civil war, most sites were abundantly covered with projectiles and bombs, so the study of this phenomenon is difficult.

During the period between 1964 and 1973, the Valley of the Jugs was very bombed by the US Air Force. In general, the United States dropped more shells on Laos than in the whole world war. Laos was reset more than 262 million anti-personnel cassette bombs. According to experts, about 80 million of them did not explode and remained a deadly threat to the local population. Until now, there are unexploded mines here, so not all platforms are available to tourists.

The most studied and visited place is located 5 kilometers from the city of Pxonsavan and is called the NO platform 1. In addition to it, seven more sites are available. They are completely cleaned of unexploded bombs and are open to visitors. These are the sites NO 2, NO 3, NO 16 near the old capital of Xieng Khoung, the NO23 section near the hot springs in Muang-Khama, the NO25 section and the NO 52 site, where 392 jug is located.

Imagine that somewhere on our planet there are fields and forests, for which hundreds of stone jugs are scattered for thousands of years in size. Their origin is one of the most interesting riddles of history. In general, today I will introduce you to an unusual place in which we managed to visit during the annual travel in Southeast Asia, the Valley of the Jugs in Laos, I will tell you in which part of the country they can be found, I will note the location on the map, I will explain how to get , We will tell legends and theory of origin, show a lot of photos and ladies our reviews.

General information and versions of the Origin of the Valley of the Jugs

Facts about jugs

The mysterious Valley of the Jugs (Plain of Jars) is located in the country of Laos, namely, not far from the province's plateau (Khvenge) Xianghuang. Scientists have established that the period of the occurrence of vessels refers to 500 BC. - 500 AD. (Iron Age). At the moment, the valley found more than 90 places of locations of jugs, the number of which fluctuates from 1 to 392 pieces. In diameter, the size of the vessels varies from 1 to 3 meters, carved from rock rocks and have a cylindrical shape. Many jugs have edging at the hole, which there is a suggestion that they had covers. Inside and near megalithic jugs, teeth were found, glass beads, chips of ceramic stone and bronze products, bone tissues. There are many different versions by the origin of the mysterious valley of the jugs, the most basic will list below.

Jumps of valley

Version 1: Giant

It is rather not the version, but a legend. Residents of Laos believe that the giants lived at these lands. Once, their king Hong Zhang (Khun Cheung) won the enemies and, to mark this event, ordered to make the stone vessels for the manufacture of rice wine.

Jugs location №1

Version 2: Shopping Path

Some sources mention that similar stone jugs were also found in countries such as India and Indonesia. Their locations coincide with the trading paths. In connection with this circumstance, there is a hypothesis that the jugs were made for merchants from different countries. During monsoons, rainwater was gained in the stone vessels, and the travelers and animals could quench thirst. Found beads and other items could well serve as an offering to the gods to reduce the rain and filled the jugs with water.

Drink, guests are expensive!

Version 3: Feline Rites

An interesting fact that a cave found near location No. 1, which created two artificial holes. Inside the footprints are preserved. It is assumed that this cave served as a crematorium, and the holes were chimneys.

The state of objects and remains found in the jugs indicate signs of cremation, and around the flask - to burials without burning. In the explanations of this fact there are several interpretations.

One of theories. The bodies of the highest sections of the population, perhaps they were cremated, so that their soul moved to the sky, and Prostolyn was buried so that their souls were servants of the Earth.

Another version. Alternatively, the body of the deceased was placed in a jug, and after some time, when the soul goes into the world of different, cremated, and after the secondally stamped.

Third interpretation. It is likely that at first one person was buried in the jug, and for many years the relatives of the deceased were buried around the vessel.

Crematorium cave at location №1

Current condition of the valley of the jugs

During the Secretary War (1964-1973), the American bombs prevented this region of Laos. 🙁 The territory of the province of Sianghuan is still overwhelmed by millions of non-separable mines. Not only are many jugs damaged and destroyed as a result of bombing, so also access to most vessel locations is still limited and is extremely dangerous. Cleaning from shells is no cheap process for poor Lao NDR. In this regard, the country's valley Country calls on the status of the UNESCO World Heritage status to attract funding from outside to clear the surrounding territories from Min. At the moment (April 2015), only seven locations of jugs are safe: the most visited No. 1, 2, 3 and less popular Nos. 16, 23, 25, 52.

Valley of the Kuirs, location 1: photos and our reviews

Location of stone jugs №1 (Site 1: Thong Hai Hin) - the most visited place of the valley, because It is close to everyone to the city of Pxhonsavan. Here, in the area of \u200b\u200b25 hectares, 334 vessels are scattered.

The largest jug, found in this place, has a diameter of 2.5 m and a height of 2.57 m.

The largest jug of Location 1

It was near this location that the cave was discovered, similar to the ancient crematorium, which I wrote above.

Location No. 1 is a popular place among the locals for wedding and other photo shoots.

And some more photos of the valley of the jugs:

Route on the map of the valley of the jugs, Location 1

Our review: If you arrived in Phonsavan, then a visit to this place is necessary! Location 1 is one of the largest, interesting and easily accessible in the valley of the jugs.

Valley of the jugs, Location 2: photos and our reviews

This part of the Jugs Valley (Site 2: Hai Hin Phu Salato) we visited last. It so happened that I had a little bit to get to the darkness, because Before that half a day rode for some fields, I do not regret anyone! The jugs are located here on two hills. At first we looked at the elevation to the right, if you go from the box office. What kind of species we opened !!!

Then wrapped on the left hill. The atmosphere of some mystery reigned here.

Our review: This place seemed the most ... spiritual, or something. Perhaps this is due to the fact that we arrived here at sunset when the fields, hills and jugs acquired a golden-fiery color. I had a feeling that time was stopped, that the Bone and I remained quite someone somewhere on the edge of the earth. I wanted to rejoice, jump ... no! I wanted to fly!

Valley of the jugs, Location 3: photos and our reviews

Having bought tickets at the checkup tickets for inspection of the site number 3 (Site 3: Hai Hin Lat Khai), go through the bridge through the river.

To see the third location of the jugs, you need to go through the rice fields.

Vessels are on a small hill in a fenced area.

Our review: This part of the valley has smashed us the least, even though we visited it to the previous one. But it was pleasure to go through rice fields and observe a beautiful nature around.

Rules of behavior and precautions

At visits to the valley of the jugs there are following rules of behavior:

1. Do not walk on the jugs and do not move them.
2. Do not litter! Garbage to leave in specially equipped places.
3. Do not damage the jugs and do not draw on them. Do not bring sharp objects into the territory.
4. Campgrounds and picnics on the territory of the archaeological park are prohibited.
5. Sale of any jugs is prohibited.
6. Do not enter the territory without permission.
7. It is forbidden to move on vehicles on the territory of the complex.

It is very unpleasant when the locals themselves do not follow these orders. Example. Below in the photo of the table, on which the above rules are written in Laos and English. Right under it, the jugs sitting on which the Lao will fly hard to fly in the "Suckle". Eating more? People deliberately bought food and brought with them to chop it here. Why not do it in the parking lot, for example? Yes, here for an hour or two you can get around every jug! Did the innerpege?

PrecautionsFirst of all, it is reduced to the opportunity to stumble upon a mine. At least the territory of the seven locations of the jugs and is safe, better in the direction not to deviate. On the places cleared from bombs, install special marks with the inscription MAG (MINE ADVISORY GROUP). From the side of the white strip - zone without min.

Left min

How to get to the valleys of the jugs (on the map of Laos)

Map of Kuvshin sites

As I wrote, we visited 3 main locations of the jugs in Laos (№№ 1, 2, 3). However, there are several more relative to available places around the phonawan. I know about the existence of at least 4 more separated from mines: №№ 16, 23, 25, 52. In order to study the surroundings. Mobile application with offline maps Maps.me was used to navigate.

on the map Phonsawa, Xianghuang:

Deciphering labels on the map:

• Red - the main landmark, the tourist center of the city of Pxonsavan.
• Blue - location No. 1 of the valley of the jugs.
• Yellow - location No. 2 of the valley of the jugs.
• Green - Location No. 3 of the valley of the jugs.
• Orange - quarry and territory with unfinished jugs.
• Violet is an estimated point of location No. 16.

There is another schematic card, photographed by the Italian - Landlord Bike:

In the tourist center of the city, a colorful pretty conventional map was seen in the form of drawings of jugs. Unfortunately, I did not make a photo of the valley. You can find on site.

Location 1.

• Working hours:Mon-ft. 8.00-11.30 and 13.30-16.00. Over working time to the jugs will be problematic.
• Ticket price: Entrance - 15,000 instrumentation ($ 2), parking bike - 3.000 Kip (0.38 $).
• Coordinates:19.431653, 103.15411.
• How to get:from the route number 7 (asphalt), passing along the city of Pxhonsavan, you need to go on the road 1d (asphalt). 6 km will turn right. After a few tens of meters, a dusty small-coiled road will begin, but after 2 km will find yourself at the office building and parking. From the cash register to jugs bring to electric vehicles, although the distance there is not very large, it is quite possible to walk on foot.

Location 2.

• Working hours:
• Ticket price:
• Coordinates:19.318857, 103.15275.
• How to get: From the route number 7 (asphalt), passing along the city of Pxhonsavan, you need to go on the road 1d (asphalt). 9 km will turn right. Here on the wide primer go 4 km and take left. Further moving 2.5 km and near the pointer near the village of Nak Ho again to turn left 1.5 km away. After the cashier, you need to go around 600 m (we were allowed to drive on the bike). Then you will see the steps (paths) on the elevation of the right and left. In general, the jugs will be there, and there.

Location 3.

• Working hours:not installed. Judging by the situation, it is possible to get to the jugs even at the time when the cash desk does not work.
• Ticket price: Entrance - 10,000 kip ($ 1.25), Bike parking - free.
• Coordinates:19.292784, 103.15045.
• How to get: From the route number 7 (asphalt), passing along the city of Pxhonsavan, you need to go on the road 1d (asphalt). 9 km will turn right. Here on the wide primer go 4 km and take left. Further move 6.5 km (drove to location No. 2 and the village of Nak Ho) and the pointer to turn left (without reaching the village of Cha Ho), drive another 1.7 km away, where there will be a congress to the checkout. Immediately at the cashier you need to go through the bridge. Then you will go to the rice fields through which you need to go further. Hold the paths that will lead a little to the right. Focus on the hill with trees among the fields, it is there that will be jugs.

Other locations of the valley of the jugs

The owner of the bike was very frozen, having heard about our desire to visit other valleys of the jugs. Explained his reaction by the fact that it is far and problematic. For not a grip of time limited, we did not want to search for these places (like other mysterious archaeological monuments of Megalith in more than a hundred kilometers from Pxonsawa in the neighboring province). This was strongly regretted in just a few days, being far from here - in Vang Vienge. Only there the idea came to mind. Elbows bit, of course, but what to do. The next time you visit the SUV, I will definitely pay numerous "holes" by Laos!

Other playground:

• Quarry and unfinished jugs - coordinates: 19.47862, 103.0872, Entrance of 10 thousand kips.
• №16 - Behind the old capital of the province of Muang Khoun.
• №23 – near the big hot spring outside the city called Muang Kham.
• №52 - The largest of the valleys (392 jug). Is located in the area of \u200b\u200bBan Phakeo (Phouxeo?). You are not very easy to get here. Some distance you need to go on foot. I read that there is a traditional village of the people of Hmongs nearby.
• №25 - Somewhere in the city of Muang Phukoot (Phoukout?).

Investigated the valley of the jugs in Laos

Hey! We, Marina and Konstantin Samorosenko, are the authors of this travel blog. All the information provided on the site free. But if you want thank authors, take part assembly for expensive hearing restoration operation Our son Elisha. Details and our story can be found.

Details for help:

✔ Map Tinkoff 4377 7237 4260 2448 Samorevko Konstantin Igorevich (Pope Elisha)

✔ Yandex money 410012258423394 Samorevko Konstantin Igorevich (Pope Elisha)

In Laos, there is a place called the valley of the jugs. The name the locality got no coincidence. Here are hundreds of stone ... non-stupid, non-pools, not tanks, and spacious (mostly) tanks.

It would seem that it may be easier to stone capacity? Take the boulder, hollow inside the cavity - and use it! But if the product is difficult for a form, equipped with a lid like a pan, is fluttered into the ground and has cyclopic dimensions - what is it? How was used? Who needed? When was it created?

There are no unambiguous answers to these questions. Due to the impossibility of conducting full-scale archaeological excavations, the decision of the historical problem is postponed to an indefinite future.

In the valley of the jugs, the war was boiling ...

Pilve from back America fought with Vietnam - got Laos. Border with Vietnam Lao province in which the valley of the jugs is located, underwent massive bombardments. Part of the discarded charges was mines that get on a combat platoon when entering the land. Many in the valley and unexploded airbabes, and forgotten artillery shells.

That is why archaeological surveys - and at the same time any travel activities - in the valley of the jugs are prohibited, and access to dangerous areas is closed. Meanwhile, similar to the structure of stone containers, found here, as well as in Thailand and India, are very unusual and interesting.

In some places, the ban is not particularly strictly acting, and the legendary jugs can be crushed!

Legends of the Valley of Kuvshin

The most poetic is the story that has the Miao's nationality. As if a few thousand years ago, giants lived in these places, and they went to the valley of the jugs. In large stone vessels, they were given to them, the tanks were smaller used as glasses.

Whoever believes in giants, interprets the caravans who walked in Southeast Asia and needed long-term storage of foods and water. As if these caravantes and wound out of stone and containers, and the covers - and used them for centuries.

Adherents of funeral-ritual traditions (they have any found artifact is considered as a matter of cult) talk about the use of stone jugs as sarcophagus, whether the tumors, whether the containers for storing the ashes of the lords of the rulers.

Tourists all more like a version telling about Korhung Cheng's king, atten to celebrate the victory in the next meeting with abundant inspired. Taking into account the numerous troops and weak intoxicating ability of rice and wing of Braga, the containers for cooking beverages were required!

True, in this case, the huge army of Kamenotesov would have to take a huge army. Where to take so many qualified personnel and suitable tools? After all, iron at that time almost did not know ...

Locals have simplified legend to simple tabernation. Say, in jugs under heavy covers were placed evil evil among people. Trying in the Western, it slowly absorbed into the stone. Therefore, children are not what to get inside, but even touch the stone jugs - it is forbidden!

Particularly exotic theory reads about placing in the body of stone jugs (or under their dons), and other treasures.

Mysterious age of finds in the valley of the jugs

Opinions regarding the moment of the appearance of jugs on the light will differ. Most archaeologists tend to dating "dishes" the first millennium to our era. Judging by the pace of erosion of the stone, the earliest of stone jugs saw the light in the 800th year to R. X.; The latest - about the 500th year.

But who could have spent three hundred years on cutting and hollowing out hundreds and hundreds of boulders, some of which weighed a good tens of tons? And if unknown masters did some utilitarian tanks - why was it often too thick layer of stone? Overhairs of thick walls reduce the vessel capacity ...

In favor of the hypothesis about the long-time origin of stone jugs, anthropological finds are also spoken. Australian specialists who worked in the Dummy Zone of the Valley of the Jugs, found human remains. Radio carbon analysis gave an accurate age of bones - 2500 years.

Dolina Kuvnovna - an old cemetery?

According to Australian scientists, the neighborhood of bones and jugs are no coincidence. The bodies of the dead for several pieces were placed in stone containers with covers. The rotting of the fabrics comes with heat isolation, high temperature accelerates the process of body decomposition. In a year or a half of the jug, it was possible to extract pure bones - and to soar them separately, in a specially dedicated place.

Pits filled with bones were covered with a massive gravestone, and no more dead were disturbed. While the accumulation of bones was accumulated to fill the new pit, the remains were stored in one of the stone or ceramic jugs.

However, uncomplicated calculations give stalking results, little conjugate with reality. In alone, the valley of the jugs there are more than a thousand vessels of various volumes. Given the "productivity" of the jugs as sarcophagus, it should be assumed that it served this funeral enterprise a multi-million city. No traces of existence of any major settlement near the Valley of the Jugs do not exist!

Then the valley of the jugs - the warehouse?

The opponents of the funeral theory suggested that stone jugs focused relatively dormitory, served as some "bodies of the Motherland." Indeed, the grain in a leakage tanks can be stored for a long time - if there is a way to protect reserves from condensation moistening.

It is not necessary to speak about storage in water vessels or wine. The warm climate of Laos will not allow to keep the liquid in use suitable.

History of research of the valley of the jugs

The discovery of the Valley of the Kubyvinov made an official of the French administration of Laos in 1903. Scrisal information about the wonderful find was not particularly excited by the scientific community of Europe, and the first researcher, the archaeologist Henri Parmerty, arrived in the valley of the jugs only in 1923.

Having found in the jugs and around them the artifacts of the Bronze Age and the debris of human bones, Parmerty has lost interest in the valley and loss of the ravis. Madeleine Kolani, who replaced the compatriot in a scientific post, worked with great zeal.

Having made an assumption about the existence in these places of the forgotten civilization, Madeleine released a two-volume review of his finds. The archaeological community got acquainted with the published materials, did not see the sensation in them - and the book was no longer reprinted, and not translated into other languages.

Renewal of studies accounted for the very end of the twentieth century. Japanese Nitta and Lao Tong-Sa found in the valley of jugs a few burials, and on one of the stone vessels found decorative images.

In total, for the past since the opening of the valley of the jugs of 115 years, not a single mystery of the origin and the use of stone tanks was not solved, and the hypotheses expressed were unproved and irrefutable.

What is known about stone tanks from the valley of the jugs?

The forms of jugs are quite different. Cylindrical products prevail. Many jugs made by cone. There are almost proper geometry containers - prism, pyramids with rounded ribs. Many vessels are made as real jugs - with a raised and narrowed neck.

The height of stone products ranges from 30 cm to 3.5 m. The largest jug weighs about 10 tons. The mass of most of the large jugs is laid in two tons.

With stone jugs, a certain number of stone covers have been preserved. There is every reason to believe that earlier each vessel was equipped with an individual lid. However, most of them people sent to perform more relevant tasks.

Part of the preserved covers is simple discs cut from stone. Part is the real works of art, curated with stylized carved images of people and animals.

Local rocks of natural stone served material for jugs and covers. Here is a quote from the report on the laboratory study of the group of stone jugs: "And untreated, and ground containers are made of ,. Some of the vessels have several varieties of rocks in the wall structure. "

At the same time, we are talking about a natural stepback, and not an artificial connection of differentty rocks. In addition, the examination refuted the working hypothesis about the possible manufacture of jugs from artificial stone (concrete). The presence is not far from the jugs of artifacts (stone, bronze, iron plates), which can qualify as a tool, speaks in favor of the stone hypothesis of the origin of the vessels.

True, the locals acquainted researchers with oral (and absolutely false) legends, which reported on the preparation of plastic mass from the varitary collagen, sugar syrup, mineral fillers.

No more reliable information about stone jugs.

The valley of the jugs: equation from some variables

Before future the valleys of the jugs, the researchers are tasks:

• find out who and for which hundreds of stone jugs have done;
• lost covers (at least part);
• clarify the dating of the manufacture of each of the stone jugs;
• sort out the technology of making massive vessels;
• find quarries and work out the technology for transporting raw materials to the place of manufacture of jugs.

It is possible that the truth seekers will be able to find unnoticed characteristics of stone jugs. New information will certainly give the keys to the raystery of the mystery of the existence of megalitic vessels in the valley of the jugs.

The valley of the jugs is a group of unique sites that keep unusual historical and archaeological monuments - huge stone jugs. These mysterious objects are located in the province of Xiangkhuang, in Laos. Thousands of giant stone vessels are scattered among the thick tropical flora. The size of the jugs varies from 0.5 to 3 meters, and the weight of the largest reaches 6 thousand kg. Most giant stone pots have a cylindrical shape, but there are also oval and rectangular jugs. Next to the unusual vessels found round discs that were supposedly used as covers for them. These pots made from granite, sandstone, rock rocks and calcined corals. Scientists suggest that the age of stone cup is 1500 - 2000 years.

The area of \u200b\u200bthe valley includes more than 60 sites on which groups of giganic vessels are located. All platforms are elongated along one line, which may be evidence that the ancient trading path was here before, which served the pads with jugs. In the city of Pxonavan focused on the largest number of jugs, this place is called the "first platform", on which there are about 250 vessels of various sizes.

Poonsavan City:

There is a huge number of theories and assumptions regarding who and for what purposes so peculiar vessels were created. According to scientists, these pitchers were used by the ancient people living in the south-east of Asia, the culture and customs of which still remain unknown. Historians and anthropologists suggest that huge jugs could be funeral rituals in funeral rituals. There is a version that products stored in them, the other version states that rainwater was gathered in the vessels, which was used by trading caravans. Laos traditions say that these gigan jugs used as ordinary dishes living here in ancient times giants. Well, the version of the locals is saying that rice wine was made in jugs-megaliths and kept rice wine. How many versions and theories did not put forward the valley of the jugs, it is undoubtedly, remains an undivided mystery.

Now active negotiations are being conducted on the inclusion of the famous Valley of the Jugs on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main reason why she has not yet given this status - these are the consequences of the strong bombing of the Air Force, which was subjected to the area of \u200b\u200bthe valley. And the cleaning of the territory from shells is an important condition for the possibility of researching and developing tourism in this area. At the moment there is a large number of shells, ready to rest at any time, therefore, most of the valley is not available for visiting. Laos's authorities lay out all their strength to clear the valley of the jugs from shells, and ensure safe movement on the territory. This is helped by various non-governmental organizations that are fascinated by the beauty of ancient monuments and are ready to fight for ensuring that these valuable historical objects are open to people.
To date, only a limited number of pads with jugs is open to visiting, so fully investigating the valleys is very difficult. Now only three sites are available to tourists, which are completely cleaned of shells.

"Platform 2", on which 90 jugs are located, 25 km south of Pphonsavan: