Ancient Mysteries Unveiled: Brad Olsen Explores Megalithic Plain of Jars & Elongated Skulls
Brad Olsen recently traveled to Laos to explore the megalithic "Plain of Jars" sites. These ancient stone vessels, dating back to the Iron Age (500 BCE to 500 CE), stand about 2 meters tall and likely served as funerary containers in a secondary burial process. The area was heavily bombed during the "Secret War" that coincided with the Vietnam War, leaving the landscape pockmarked with craters while damaging many of the ancient jars.
Key Takeaways
The massive stone jars in Laos, some over 3 meters tall, date back 2,500 years and were likely used for ancient funeral practices.
Laos became the most heavily bombed country in the world during the "Secret War," with bombing campaigns directly impacting the ancient jar sites.
Despite the difficult history, modern Laos is peaceful with friendly people, though unexploded ordnance (UXOs) continues to affect the population.
Brad Olsen's Professional Journey
Brad Olsen has established himself as a multifaceted professional whose work spans publishing, event production, and investigative writing. Currently residing in San Francisco, he manages several projects simultaneously, including writing for various publications, managing websites, handling marketing work, and overseeing special sales fulfillment. His commitment to producing thought-provoking content is evident across all his professional endeavors.
Book Publishing and Event Management
As the founder of CCC Publishing, Olsen maintains a clear editorial philosophy—he only publishes books he would personally value owning. This approach has led to a catalog of critical, thought-provoking titles that appeal to a wide readership. His publishing house is distributed by Independent Publishers Group, giving his titles broader market reach.
Between writing articles, book chapters, and maintaining an active social media presence, Olsen also collaborates with various outsourced partners on different projects. His work ethic demonstrates a balance between creative pursuits and business operations.
How Weird Street Faire Development
One of Olsen's most significant achievements is founding the How Weird Street Faire in San Francisco. This event has grown into one of the city's largest festivals, showcasing his talents as an event producer and community builder. The fair represents his ability to create engaging public experiences while managing the complex logistics required for large-scale urban events.
The faire has become a cultural fixture in San Francisco, reflecting Olsen's creative vision and organizational skills. His success with this event highlights his understanding of what resonates with audiences and his capacity to execute ambitious public gatherings.
Journey to the Megalithic Sites of Laos: Exploring the Plain of Jars
The Plain of Jars in northeastern Laos represents one of Southeast Asia's most intriguing archaeological mysteries. This remote location houses 135 remaining stone jars, most standing approximately 2 meters tall—with the largest exceeding 3 meters in height. These impressive megalithic structures date back to the Iron Age (roughly 500 BCE to 500 CE), making them approximately 2,500 years old. Visitors can still observe the ancient chip marks on these carefully carved vessels, which were crafted from sandstone, composite stone, and even granite.
These massive jars weren't randomly placed but instead marked an ancient crossroads—a significant trading route where wealthy merchants likely commissioned these structures. Each jar features distinctive elements including rims around the top and originally had stone lids, showcasing the advanced craftsmanship of their creators.
Early Archaeological Explorations in Laos
A French archaeologist named Colani conducted extensive research at the Plain of Jars during the 1930s. Her pioneering work provided crucial insights into the purpose of these enigmatic stone vessels. Through meticulous excavation, she discovered funerary objects alongside cremated and skeletal remains both within and surrounding the jars.
Colani's research established that these weren't simply storage containers but served a specific ritual purpose connected to burial practices. Her findings transformed understanding of the site, establishing it as a complex funerary landscape rather than merely an unusual collection of stone vessels.
Secondary Burial Customs and Practices
The jars functioned as part of a secondary burial process—a sophisticated funerary practice different from modern burial traditions. In this process, deceased bodies were initially placed inside these large stone containers where they remained until decomposition reduced them to bones.
After decomposition completed, the bones would be removed and reburied in designated areas around the plain. The size of the jars—large enough to accommodate an entire human body—facilitated this process perfectly. This burial complex served different social classes:
Wealthy families: Used the elaborate stone jars for multi-generational burials
Important individuals: Received special stone shields (once thought to be jar covers) as grave markers
Common people: Often cremated in a nearby cave that served as a crematorium
The Plain of Jars isn't confined to a single location but spans multiple sites across northeastern Laos. While the main site contains approximately 100 jars and attracts most tourists, other jars appear scattered across hilltops and jungle areas. All these locations now enjoy protection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite many jars being damaged during 20th-century conflicts when bomb craters pockmarked the landscape and some vessels were destroyed or used for military purposes.
Connections to the Secret War in Laos
The Plain of Jars, an ancient megalithic site dating back to the Iron Age (approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE), bears silent witness to both ancient burial practices and modern warfare. These massive stone vessels, some standing over 3 meters tall, are scattered across northeastern Laos in various sites now protected as UNESCO World Heritage locations. Archaeological evidence suggests these enormous containers served as part of a secondary burial process, where bodies were placed until decomposition, after which the bones would be removed for final burial arrangements.
The Most Heavily Bombed Nation
Laos holds the unfortunate distinction of being the most intensively bombed country in world history. Beginning in 1964, the United States conducted what became known as the "Secret War" - a bombing campaign that remained undisclosed to Congress and the American public for six years. More explosives were dropped on Laos than all bombs used during World War II combined, creating a devastating legacy that continues to affect the country today.
The strategic importance of Laos during the Vietnam War (or Second Indochina War) stemmed from its position along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which served as a critical supply route from North Vietnam through Laos and into South Vietnam. This geographical significance made the country a target for extensive carpet bombing operations.
Key Facts about the Secret War:
Started in 1964 without public disclosure
Remained classified for six years
Exceeded the total bombing tonnage of WWII
Created lasting issues with unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Impact on the 'Plain of Jars'
The ancient burial grounds at the Plain of Jars suffered significant damage during the bombing campaigns. Located on a high plateau at an ancient crossroads that had made the area prosperous in ancient times, these archaeological treasures became caught in modern warfare. Today, visitors can still observe large bomb craters pockmarking the landscape around these 2,500-year-old stone vessels.
The massive jars themselves bear the scars of conflict in multiple ways:
Some were completely destroyed by bombing
Others were broken into scattered fragments
Many sites show evidence of trenches and fortifications
The jars were even used as defensive positions during earlier conflicts
The ceremonial landscape had originally been created through extraordinary effort, with massive sandstone vessels being transported over 20 kilometers from distant quarries. These monuments to ancient wealth and burial customs, created by Iron Age craftspeople whose chisel marks remain visible today, now stand alongside monuments to modern warfare.
Despite this troubled history, contemporary Laotian communities have developed museums and heritage sites that acknowledge both the ancient significance of the jars and their connection to recent conflicts. The sites attract tourists who can view approximately 135 remaining jars across several locations, with the largest collection comprising about 100 vessels situated near a World Heritage museum.
Current State of Laos and Unexploded Ordnance
Laos bears the unfortunate distinction of being the most heavily bombed country in world history, despite no formal declaration of war by the United States. The bombing campaigns, part of what is now known as the "Secret War," began in 1964 but remained undisclosed to both Congress and the American public for six years. This covert military operation occurred alongside the Vietnam War, targeting the Ho Chi Minh Trail that passed through Laos, serving as a supply route from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.
The scale of bombing was unprecedented - more bombs were dropped on Laos than all bombs used in World War II combined. Today, these bombing campaigns are visible in the landscape, with craters still pockmarking areas like the Plain of Jars, an archaeological site dating back to the Iron Age (approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE).
The most enduring and dangerous legacy of this secret war is the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that continue to threaten local populations decades later. These remnants of war remain embedded throughout the countryside, posing ongoing hazards to communities trying to rebuild and develop their lands.
Laotian People's Perspective on the War
Despite the devastating impact of the bombing campaigns, the Laotian people demonstrate remarkable resilience and lack of animosity toward Americans. Visitors to Laos consistently describe the local population as exceptionally friendly and welcoming. This absence of resentment exists alongside a clear-eyed understanding of their country's difficult past.
Museums dedicated to UXOs can be found throughout Laos, documenting the historical events and ongoing clearance efforts. For many visitors, especially Americans, these museums present a perspective significantly different from conventional Western historical narratives about the conflict in Southeast Asia. Seeing the war from the Laotian viewpoint offers a more complete understanding of this period in history.
The Laotian approach appears to be one of acknowledging the past while focusing on the future. Local communities continue to live alongside the physical reminders of the war - both the bomb craters and archaeological sites like the Plain of Jars that were damaged during the conflict. Some of these ancient stone jars, which once served as funerary vessels, still bear the scars of being used as defensive positions during various conflicts, including both the First Indochina War against the French and later during the Secret War.
Historical Significance of the Plain of Jars
The Plain of Jars represents one of Southeast Asia's most intriguing archaeological mysteries. Located in northeastern Laos, this site contains approximately 135 megalithic stone jars, most measuring about 2 meters tall, with some exceptional specimens reaching over 3 meters in height. Dating back to the Iron Age (approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE), these massive stone vessels have stood as silent witnesses to roughly 2,500 years of human history. Archaeological evidence suggests these jars served funerary purposes, as excavations have uncovered both cremated and skeletal remains in and around the vessels.
Ancient Laotian Burial Practices
The Plain of Jars reveals sophisticated funerary customs practiced by Iron Age Laotians. Rather than simple burials, these megalithic structures facilitated a secondary burial process. In this method:
A deceased person's body would be placed inside a jar
The remains would decompose until only bones remained
The bones would then be removed and reinterred elsewhere on the site
French archaeologist Colani, who studied the site extensively in the 1930s, discovered numerous funerary objects alongside human remains, confirming the mortuary function of these vessels. The archaeological evidence indicates social stratification was present in ancient Laotian society. Wealthy merchants likely commissioned the massive jars, while poorer individuals were cremated and buried in simpler graves throughout the complex. Some stone discs found at the site, initially thought to be jar lids, have been identified as burial markers for high-status individuals.
Megalithic Jar Material and Transportation
The creation of these massive stone vessels demonstrates impressive engineering capabilities. Craftspeople carved the jars from:
Sandstone boulders
Composite stone
Granite
Original tool marks remain visible on many jars, allowing archaeologists to study ancient construction techniques. The quarries where these stones originated have been identified, revealing the truly remarkable achievement these monuments represent. The massive stones had to be transported over 20 kilometers to reach their final position on the Plain of Jars.
The site's strategic importance relates to its position at an ancient crossroads, explaining why wealthy merchants would invest in creating such elaborate funerary monuments at this specific location. Today, the Plain of Jars exists as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though many jars bear damage from more recent conflicts. Craters from bombing campaigns during the "Secret War" in Laos (1964-1970) pockmark the landscape, and some jars were completely destroyed or broken into fragments during this period.
Impact of Wars on the Jar Sites
The Plain of Jars, an ancient megalithic site in northeastern Laos dating back to the Iron Age (approximately 500 BCE to 500 CE), has endured significant damage during modern warfare. These remarkable stone vessels, some standing over 3 meters tall, became unexpected casualties in 20th-century conflicts.
During the "Secret War" in Laos (1964-1973), which coincided with the Vietnam War, the area suffered extensive bombing. This remote plateau, historically significant as a regional crossroads, became strategically important as part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail where supplies moved from North Vietnam through Laos to South Vietnam.
The bombing campaign left visible scars across the landscape. Many jar sites remain pockmarked with bomb craters, and some jars were completely destroyed or broken into scattered pieces. Laos earned the unfortunate distinction of becoming the most heavily bombed country in world history, with more explosives dropped than all of World War II combined.
The jars themselves served multiple purposes during conflicts. During the First Indochina War against French colonial forces, the massive stone vessels provided defensive shelter. Evidence of military trenches can still be found around the sites, showing how these ancient funerary objects were repurposed for protection.
Unexploded ordnance (UXOs) continues to pose dangers in the region today, a lasting remnant of the bombing campaigns. Despite this difficult history, modern Laotians maintain remarkably positive attitudes toward visitors exploring these archaeological treasures.
Today, the Plain of Jars is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. While visitors can explore the largest collection of roughly 100 jars at the main site with its heritage museum, numerous smaller jar sites are scattered across the region, some hidden in jungle areas or positioned on hilltops.
