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Plain of Jars

The Plain of Jars is an archaeological landscape in Xiengkhouang, with stone jar groups and other Iron Age funerary remains. Sites 1, 2 and 3 offer different ways to observe the surrounding hills and fields.

Stone jars and a tree at Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, Laos.
Photo by Dominic Nelson Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Site 1 has a large assemblage and works well as an introduction.
  • Sites 2 and 3 invite comparison between the jars, the terrain and the rural landscape.
  • Other remains include stone discs, secondary burials and quarries.
Stone jars among trees on a hill at Site 2 of the Plain of Jars.
Photo by Aepplertrinker Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Plain of Jars
Photo by Adam Jones Adam63 Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Plain of Jars

Guides to this place

2 articles

Plain of Jars

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

2 related guides

Marked visitor path among stone jars at the Plain of Jars.

The Plain of Jars from Phonsavan: Three Sites and a Clear Boundary

Sites 1, 2 and 3 offer an introduction to the archaeology of the Plain of Jars without turning a landscape shaped by war into an improvised excursion.

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Stone jars and a tree at Site 1 of the Plain of Jars, Laos.

Visiting Sites 1, 2 and 3 of the Plain of Jars

The jars are not something you take in all at once: Site 1 provides scale and context, while Sites 2 and 3 offer landscape and contrast. The important decision, however, is not how many sites to add, but recognising that marked routes are an essential part of a responsible visit.

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Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 09/10/2026