Plain of Jars, Laos

Plain of Jars (27 December, 2005)

The Plain of Jars is a site in Laos preserving historic stone relics from ancient times. These relics are in the form of massive stone pots, or jars. Archaeologists and historians have not been able to determine the age of these jars, which are strewn about the plains in northern Laos. Plain of Jars Site 1 covers an area of 25 hectares. A picker fence surrounds it. According to the notice board, there are 334 jars found here, with the biggest having a diameter of 2.5 meters and a height of 2.57 meters.

A big signboard stated that the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has performed Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance of the site. Coloured markers on the ground indicate the areas that have been cleared. The markers are coloured white on one side, and red one the other. The white-facing side are areas where sub-surface clearing of UXO has been done. The red-facing side are areas where visual clearing of UXO has been done, and no sub-surface clearing has been executed yet. During the clearing process, which took place between 26 July and 29 October 2004, 127 pieces of UXO was removed as well as 31,814 pieces of scrap. We were advised to remain within the areas marked with white markers only.