A new excavation on Laos’ mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang has uncovered the densely packed bones of at least 37 people inside a single giant stone jar, offering the clearest evidence yet of how these ancient monuments were used.
Dr. Nicholas Skopal of James Cook University, Australia, in collaboration with Souilya Bounxayhip from the Lao Department of Heritage, led the discovery, which was first published in the journal Antiquity on 17 May. Researchers describe it as one of the most consequential findings in nearly a century of investigation into the site.
The jar, located northeast of Phonsavan in Xieng Khouang Province, stands 1.3 metres high and over 2 metres wide.
Inside, bones from at least 37 individuals were found, including femurs and skulls from 19 people, neatly arranged with longer bones toward the edges. Radiocarbon dating indicates the jar was used between the 9th and 12th centuries AD, supporting a medieval secondary interment practice rather than the previously assumed Iron Age cremations.
Researchers also uncovered glass beads in nearby smaller jars, chemically traced to South India and Mesopotamia, suggesting that the communities on the highlands of Laos were linked to long-distance trade networks across Asia.
Dr. Skopal noted that “the number of individuals suggests the jars were owned by family or extended family groups. They likely served as places where ancestral rites were performed over generations.”
DNA testing is now underway to explore familial links among the remains and gain further insights into the identities and connections of these ancient communities.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webp00Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-05-27 21:42:002026-05-26 12:50:00Remains of 37 People Discovered in Giant Stone Jar in Xieng Khouang
Laos and Japan launched a major upgrade of Wattay International Airport in Vientiane on 22 May, a project valued at over JPY 2.8 billion (USD 17.9 million).
The initiative aims to modernize the country’s main international gateway and strengthen regional air connectivity. Completion is expected by April 2028.
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the project includes upgrades to the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking apron, passenger terminal, air traffic control systems, and aviation safety equipment.
Officials said the expansion will reduce passenger congestion, allow more flights, and bring Laos’ aviation infrastructure closer to international safety standards.
The government plans to incorporate modern engineering technology and enhanced airport facilities, improving the travel experience for both domestic and international passengers.
The project forms part of long-standing cooperation between Laos and Japan, which has supported infrastructure development in Laos for around 60 years.
Earlier in 2026, Japan provided Laos with airport service equipment under the “Economic and Development Program,” launched in 2021. This included 21 types of equipment, such as passenger shuttle buses, baggage handling systems, security scanners, and aviation support vehicles, distributed across airports nationwide.
Officials emphasized that the Wattay modernization aligns with national plans to expand air passenger and cargo transport, strengthen regional connectivity, and support Laos’ growing role as a hub for Southeast Asian aviation.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webp00Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-05-26 12:41:552026-05-26 12:42:10Laos, Japan Launch Major Upgrade of Wattay International Airport
A new Vietnamese investment in southern Laos will bring a large-scale coffee plantation and processing project to Champasak province, further expanding foreign agricultural investment on the Bolaven Plateau.
The USD 50 million project, agreed on 10 May, will cover 5,000 hectares in one of Laos’ main coffee-growing regions, known for its fertile volcanic soil and favorable climate for coffee production.
Vietnamese agribusiness firm Hoang Anh Gia Lai signed the agreement with Champasak provincial authorities during an investment meeting held in Pakse.
The project will focus on developing high-quality coffee plantations alongside processing facilities aimed at producing export-grade coffee beans for international markets.
The company said the investment will introduce modern agricultural practices and expand value-added processing in Laos’ coffee sector, which remains one of the country’s leading agricultural export industries.
Champasak authorities believe the project could help create jobs, improve agricultural productivity, and support local economic growth, particularly in rural communities linked to coffee farming and processing.
Speaking during Coffee Festival 2026 in Vientiane, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said coffee generates more than USD 200 million annually for Laos and supports around 25,000 households nationwide.
While the Bolaven Plateau remains the country’s primary coffee-producing area, cultivation has also expanded into northern provinces including Phongsaly, Houaphanh, and Xieng Khouang.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai also plans to expand plantation operations to more than 20,000 hectares across Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam as part of its long-term regional agricultural strategy.
Hydrogen-Roasted Coffee and Laos’ Export Ambitions
The investment comes as Laos continues expanding coffee production and improving quality standards to strengthen its position in international markets.
At the same time, Laos is exploring hydrogen-roasted coffee technology as part of broader efforts to modernize the sector and reduce emissions. A hydrogen-powered coffee roasting plant is currently under development in Champasak province through cooperation between Lao and Japanese partners.
Unlike traditional roasting methods, hydrogen roasting produces only water as a by-product, while developers say the technology could improve flavor stability and shelf life.
This helps Lao coffee meet growing sustainability standards in international markets such as Japan, Europe, and North America.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webp00Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-05-17 08:21:002026-05-15 10:24:02Vietnam Invests USD 50 Million in Major Coffee Project in Southern Laos
Remains of 37 People Discovered in Giant Stone Jar in Xieng Khouang
A new excavation on Laos’ mysterious Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang has uncovered the densely packed bones of at least 37 people inside a single giant stone jar, offering the clearest evidence yet of how these ancient monuments were used.
Dr. Nicholas Skopal of James Cook University, Australia, in collaboration with Souilya Bounxayhip from the Lao Department of Heritage, led the discovery, which was first published in the journal Antiquity on 17 May. Researchers describe it as one of the most consequential findings in nearly a century of investigation into the site.
The jar, located northeast of Phonsavan in Xieng Khouang Province, stands 1.3 metres high and over 2 metres wide.
Inside, bones from at least 37 individuals were found, including femurs and skulls from 19 people, neatly arranged with longer bones toward the edges. Radiocarbon dating indicates the jar was used between the 9th and 12th centuries AD, supporting a medieval secondary interment practice rather than the previously assumed Iron Age cremations.
Researchers also uncovered glass beads in nearby smaller jars, chemically traced to South India and Mesopotamia, suggesting that the communities on the highlands of Laos were linked to long-distance trade networks across Asia.
Dr. Skopal noted that “the number of individuals suggests the jars were owned by family or extended family groups. They likely served as places where ancestral rites were performed over generations.”
DNA testing is now underway to explore familial links among the remains and gain further insights into the identities and connections of these ancient communities.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/05/19/remains-of-37-people-discovered-in-giant-stone-jar-in-xieng-khouang/
Laos, Japan Launch Major Upgrade of Wattay International Airport
Laos and Japan launched a major upgrade of Wattay International Airport in Vientiane on 22 May, a project valued at over JPY 2.8 billion (USD 17.9 million).
The initiative aims to modernize the country’s main international gateway and strengthen regional air connectivity. Completion is expected by April 2028.
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the project includes upgrades to the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking apron, passenger terminal, air traffic control systems, and aviation safety equipment.
Officials said the expansion will reduce passenger congestion, allow more flights, and bring Laos’ aviation infrastructure closer to international safety standards.
The government plans to incorporate modern engineering technology and enhanced airport facilities, improving the travel experience for both domestic and international passengers.
The project forms part of long-standing cooperation between Laos and Japan, which has supported infrastructure development in Laos for around 60 years.
Earlier in 2026, Japan provided Laos with airport service equipment under the “Economic and Development Program,” launched in 2021. This included 21 types of equipment, such as passenger shuttle buses, baggage handling systems, security scanners, and aviation support vehicles, distributed across airports nationwide.
Officials emphasized that the Wattay modernization aligns with national plans to expand air passenger and cargo transport, strengthen regional connectivity, and support Laos’ growing role as a hub for Southeast Asian aviation.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/05/25/laos-japan-launch-major-upgrade-of-wattay-international-airport/
Vietnam Invests USD 50 Million in Major Coffee Project in Southern Laos
A new Vietnamese investment in southern Laos will bring a large-scale coffee plantation and processing project to Champasak province, further expanding foreign agricultural investment on the Bolaven Plateau.
The USD 50 million project, agreed on 10 May, will cover 5,000 hectares in one of Laos’ main coffee-growing regions, known for its fertile volcanic soil and favorable climate for coffee production.
Vietnamese agribusiness firm Hoang Anh Gia Lai signed the agreement with Champasak provincial authorities during an investment meeting held in Pakse.
The project will focus on developing high-quality coffee plantations alongside processing facilities aimed at producing export-grade coffee beans for international markets.
The company said the investment will introduce modern agricultural practices and expand value-added processing in Laos’ coffee sector, which remains one of the country’s leading agricultural export industries.
Champasak authorities believe the project could help create jobs, improve agricultural productivity, and support local economic growth, particularly in rural communities linked to coffee farming and processing.
Speaking during Coffee Festival 2026 in Vientiane, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said coffee generates more than USD 200 million annually for Laos and supports around 25,000 households nationwide.
While the Bolaven Plateau remains the country’s primary coffee-producing area, cultivation has also expanded into northern provinces including Phongsaly, Houaphanh, and Xieng Khouang.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai also plans to expand plantation operations to more than 20,000 hectares across Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam as part of its long-term regional agricultural strategy.
Hydrogen-Roasted Coffee and Laos’ Export Ambitions
The investment comes as Laos continues expanding coffee production and improving quality standards to strengthen its position in international markets.
At the same time, Laos is exploring hydrogen-roasted coffee technology as part of broader efforts to modernize the sector and reduce emissions. A hydrogen-powered coffee roasting plant is currently under development in Champasak province through cooperation between Lao and Japanese partners.
Unlike traditional roasting methods, hydrogen roasting produces only water as a by-product, while developers say the technology could improve flavor stability and shelf life.
This helps Lao coffee meet growing sustainability standards in international markets such as Japan, Europe, and North America.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/05/14/vietnam-invests-usd-50-million-in-major-coffee-project-in-southern-laos/