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.

Archaeological Survey of India (@ASIGoI) on X

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

Archaeological Survey of India (@ASIGoI) on X

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

X (formerly Twitter)

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

6️⃣ -Long Thanh: 18 sophisticated decorated vases

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:

8️⃣ Anthropomorphic burial jars (5 BCE - 370CE)
- Leta-leta Cave, Palawan: Late Neolithic burial assemblage
9️⃣ 5/ Within Malaysia's Sarawak region, the Niah Caves showcase more than 200 Neolithic burial jars that date back 3,500 years. These locations highlight dynamic secondary burial rituals and deep cultural beliefs regarding the afterlife. #Sarawak #NiahCaves
- Niah Caves, Sarawak: Over 200 burial jars in extensive Neolithic cemetery
- Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak: Multiple jar burial sites with megalithic monuments
- Song, Sarawak: Secondary jar burials with Ming ceramics

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

1️⃣1️⃣ -Pain Haka, East Flores: 13 ceramic jar burials with human face decorations
-Anyar, West Java: Urn burials from the last millennium BCE
-Sa'bang, Central Sulawesi: Metal Age urn burial tradition
1️⃣2️⃣ Ancient Infant Burial in Iran: Unveiling archaeological insights into early burial practices, revealing cultural beliefs and emotional connections in prehistoric societies.
1️⃣3️⃣ ANCIENT WOMAN BURIAL DISCOVERY IN AZERBAIJAN: Unearthed artifacts reveal insights into cultural rituals and the significant role of women in historical societies.
1️⃣4️⃣ A burial jar from the 1st century CE in Kalugumalai, Tamil Nadu (displayed in Folk Arts Museum, Courtallam)

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.

1️⃣6️⃣ But the research also suggests that most of the human remains buried in the ground beside the ancient jars were interred there between 700 and 1,200 years ago.
1️⃣7️⃣ Beyond their physical beauty, burial jars connect us to ancient ideas of life, death, and the afterlife, showing complex spiritual beliefs and long-distance trade links between India, mainland Southeast Asia, and island cultures. #AncientCulture
1️⃣8️⃣ These archaeological wonders highlight a shared history across cultures separated by mountains and seas but united by ritual and commerce dating back more than two millennia. Fascinating, isn’t it? #HeritagePreservation
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9/ Want to learn more about these incredible jars and the stories they tell? Follow for more deep dives into ancient civilizations and forgotten histories from South and Southeast Asia! 🙌 #ArchaeologyThread #HistoryLovers
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