Table of contents:
Video: Stone "banks" of Laos: where did the thousands of megalith vessels come from on the Xiankhuang plateau?
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The landscape of the Lao Xiankhuang plateau is dotted with thousands of stone jugs - hollow megaliths that expand at their base and are quite large in size. Somewhere these mysterious objects stand one by one, and somewhere - in groups, sometimes numbering more than a hundred pieces. This place is usually called the "Valley of stone jars" or "Valley of stone jars" and it has not yet been thoroughly studied.
In some parts of the plateau, you can see up to 250 free-standing "cans". The largest ones rise more than three meters. Some vessels are neatly made and have a flat surface, while others are rather crude, but, nevertheless, each is made of solid stone. Although most of the jugs are unadorned, there are containers on the surface of which human figures or faces are carved. Interestingly, in some places near the jugs, stone discs were found - judging by their diameter, they clearly had to serve as lids for stone vessels. Some of these alleged covers are also carved with figures of people, tigers or monkeys.
Ancient civilization
An initial study of the enigmatic plain, begun by French archaeologist Madeleine Colany in the 1930s, suggested that the stone jugs were associated with the funerary practices of the protohistoric communities that lived in the area. Excavations by Lao and Japanese archaeologists in subsequent years have confirmed this hypothesis, as human remains, burial items and ceramics have been found in this vast area, dating from comparative material from Dongson in Vietnam to the early Iron Age (from about 500 BC). to 800 AD).
The amazing artifacts found in the Valley of the Jugs are a valuable collection for exploring the late prehistory of the Southeast Asian mainland. Unfortunately, scientists still know almost nothing about the people and culture that created these containers.
But the most important mystery, as in the case of other megaliths found on our planet, is the method of making these mysterious objects and placing them on the territory of the valley, because the weight of some "cans" reaches 6 thousand kg! In order to move the giant "banks", clearly inhuman efforts were required.
Jug Legends
Local residents make up their legends about this valley. According to one of them, once upon a time huge giants lived here and these "megabanks" served as their dishes.
According to the second version, the ancient people collected water in stone jugs during the rains, and then both locals and travelers used it. It is known that in this arid climate, water was the most important value.
And fans of stories about aliens argue that stone objects are not at all randomly distributed over the plateau - they say, this is a kind of pointer that serves as a reference point for alien aircraft.
Difficulty learning
If we discard folk legends, and rely on the evidence found, scientists still consider the "funeral" version to be the most probable: it is likely that the Valley of Pitchers is an ancient cemetery. However, it is not yet possible to study the megaliths in more detail. The fact is that during the Vietnam War, a large number of bombs were dropped in this area. Firstly, the bombing destroyed a large number of jugs, and, secondly, some of the bombs dropped by US troops have not yet exploded, which poses a mortal danger to local residents, tourists and scientists. Visitors are only allowed into the safe part of the valley.
At the moment, the Valley of the Pitchers is under the close scrutiny of UNESCO as an important cultural heritage that must be preserved. Perhaps someday a poor state will be able to find money to clear the territory, which will enable researchers to study the mysterious megaliths in more detail.
Read on to continue the topic: Rai Stones - huge stone discs used as currency in the Yap Islands
Recommended:
Where did the first Russian snipers come from, and why did the enemy drummers get the first bullet?
It is impossible to establish the exact time period for the appearance of snipers. The closest thing to the truth is the statement that the jaeger military units stood at the origins of the sniper craft. During the rule of linear tactics, these units were formed by the most well-aimed marksmen, who operated in loose combat. The first jaeger battalion in the army ranks appeared in Russia in 1764. And although the gamekeepers are considered the predecessors of modern snipers, there was a significant difference between them
Behind the scenes of the film "Did they call the Snow Maiden?": How did Irina Alferova's dream come true?
35 years ago, on New Year's Eve, the premiere of the melodrama "Snegurochka Called?" The main roles in the film were played by Vladimir Menshov and Irina Alferova. For the actress, this work was of particular importance, because she seemed to her the embodiment of the very essence of the acting profession, as she understood it, and helped her to fulfill her dream
Where did the victorious "hurray" come from, and Why did foreigners adopt the battle cry of the brave Russians?
For centuries, Russian soldiers have defended their borders and attacked the enemy with a battle cry "Hurray!" This mighty, frightening call was heard in the Alpine mountains, on the hills of Manchuria, near Moscow and in Stalingrad. Victorious "Hurray!" often put the enemy to flight in inexplicable panic. And despite the fact that this cry has analogues in many modern languages, one of the most recognizable in the world is precisely the Russian version
She did not promote the Germans, did not ruin Russia, did not leave the course of Peter: what is Anna Ioannovna accused of in vain?
Anna Ioannovna, niece of Peter the Great, went down in history with a terrible image. For what they just did not reproach the second ruling queen of Russia: for tyranny and ignorance, craving for luxury, indifference to state affairs and for the fact that the dominance of the Germans was in power. Anna Ioannovna had a lot of bad character, but the myth about her as an unsuccessful ruler who gave Russia to be torn apart by foreigners is very far from the real historical picture
"To take revenge on the unreasonable Khazars": Where did the most mysterious people of Ancient Russia come from and where did they disappear
Pushkin's lines "How the prophetic Oleg is now going to take revenge on the unreasonable Khazars …" was taught at school, perhaps, by everyone. Why and how long the Russian princes fought with the Khazars, few know. Although the very image of the sworn enemy of Russia was firmly entrenched in the Khazars - as well as many legends about their Jewish origin, the "Khazar yoke" over the Russian lands and the modern heirs of the disappeared people