1️⃣ 🧵 Thread: The Ancient Burial Jar Tradition from Assam to Indonesia - A Journey Through Time and Culture 👇
Did you know? Across Asia, from Northeast India to Indonesia, ancient cultures practiced fascinating burial customs using massive stone and ceramic jars to honor their dead. These burial jars reveal secrets about trade, beliefs, and connections over 2,000 years ago!
More intriguining is that these gigantic jars are made out of rock. How they achieved this feat is mysterious.
In the quiet landscape of Dima Hasao (Assam) lies Dubungling village, historically known as Derebera, - a significant archaeological site known for its large megalithic stone jars. The current name of the village derives from Dimasa language - Dubung (tall grass) and ling
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2/ In Assam, India, the mysterious megalithic stone jars of Dima Hasao date back to 400+ BCE. Some jars stand over 3 meters tall, carved from sandstone, placed on hilltops! The largest site — Nuchubunglo — houses 546 jars, the biggest collection worldwide yet lacking research #AssamHeritage
Key Assam Sites:
-Nuchubunglo (Bolasan): 546 stone jars - the world's largest concentration
-Hojai Dobongling (Derebore): Original site documented in 1929
-Lower Chaikam: 35 jars discovered in 2020
4️⃣ -Herakilo: 10 jars found during recent surveys
-Longkhai Hamrim Hading: Single weathered jar with human remains
https://x.com/ASIGoI/status/1966189976909131826?t=HyxmVyuQCSSgAtaMQzpmwQ&s=19
In the quiet landscape of Dima Hasao (Assam) lies Dubungling village, historically known as Derebera, - a significant archaeological site known for its large megalithic stone jars. The current name of the village derives from Dimasa language - Dubung (tall grass) and ling
5️⃣ Vietnamese Sa Huynh culture (500 BCE - 200 CE) is well known for their exquisite ceramic burial jars. These contained iron tools, glass beads traded all the way from India & Iran, showing an extensive ancient trade network! #SaHuynh #VietnamHistory
Notable Vietnamese Sites:
-Can Rang, Thua Thien Hue: 207 burial jars on 2,200 square meters
-Sa Huynh, Quang Ngai: Original discovery site with hundreds of jars
-Bai Coi, Ha Tinh: First peach-shaped burial jar discovered in 2008
7️⃣ The Philippines' Tabon Cave Complex in Palawan holds over 1,500 burial jars, including the famous Manunggul Jar with its iconic soul-boat motif — symbolizing the soul's journey after death. Dating as far back as 890 BCE! #PhilippineHeritage #ManunggulJar
Major Philippine Sites:
-Tabon Cave Complex, Palawan: 1,500 burial jars spanning over 3,000 years
-Manunggul Cave, Palawan: 78 jars including the masterpiece Manunggul Jar
- Ayub Cave, Maitum, Saranggani:
1️⃣0️⃣ Meanwhile, Indonesia’s islands feature diverse jar burial traditions—from the double jar burials in Bali to the globular urns in Sumba used for secondary skull burials. These varied customs reflect a rich tapestry of ancient cultural practices. #IndonesiaHeritage
Indonesian Sites:
- Melolo, East Sumba: Hundreds of globular burial jars from the first millennium BCE
-Gilimanuk, West Bali: Unique double jar burials with evidence of human sacrifice
1️⃣5️⃣ The mysterious Plain of Jars in northern Laos — a landscape dotted with massive stone jars hewn from sandstone thousands of years ago — was likely used as a burial site for much longer than previously suspected, and perhaps for up to 2,000 years, according to new research.
The massive jars, which were likely used to expose the dead to the elements until only their bones were left to be buried, could be more than 3,000 years old, new tests suggest.
GemsOfINDOLOGY