Through Time and Space: Spatial Analysis of Megalith Morphology on the Plain of Jars, Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR

Abstract

The term 'megalith' takes its origins from the ancient Greek 'megas' ('great') and 'lithos' ('stones'), and was first used by Algernon Herbert to describe Stonehenge. Yet since the term's inception, a multitude of megalithic forms have been identified across the world, the earliest dating to c. 12,000 BP at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey. Ranging from menhirs and trilithons to dolmens and cromlechs, these large stone structures have inspired fascination in those that have beheld them. The catalyst for this awe not simply being due to their immense scale, but also due to what they represent; namely past beliefs regarding life, death, and a person's place in the universe.

Perhaps the most distinctive megalithic form is the jar, being both atypical and enigmatic. A quintessential example of this particular style can be found on the Plain of Jars, located in north-central Laos, though instances of similar jars have also been recorded in India, Myanmar, and Sulawesi. Groslier described these Laotian jars as "made of white sandstone...three to ten feet high, and often covered with a round lid. They served as tombs; [with] human ashes [being] placed inside". Spread across a sizeable area within Lao PDR, over 2000 megaliths have been recorded at 93 distinct locations, with further unconfirmed sites potentially leading to a total 118 sites. However, these large vessels have often been characterised as a mystery, with this uncertainty focusing on their origin, age, and overall function. Yet with the recent expansion of scientific investigation onto the Plain of Jars, a greater understanding of the sites has begun to develop.

The aim of this dissertation is to analyse two major aspects of megalith significance, namely their design and placement. In this sense, megalithic 'design' encapsulates the morphology and scale of specimens studied within this project. This centres on the corresponding analysis of megalith stylisation, and the dimensions of those vessels. While simultaneously, the concept of specimen 'placement' considers the spatial positioning of megalithic material culture. Principally, this will discern whether the size and stylisation of jars and stone discs influenced their placement and arrangement. The primary means in achieving this is the application of the newly developed 'Type-Space model'. This paradigm focuses on the in-depth analysis of megalith morphology, and its superimposition onto high-resolution spatial data. Consequently, this duality provides an unparalleled understanding of the scale and decoration of the Plain of Jars megaliths, whilst also generating a unique image of their configuration.