One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting the Plain of Jars with my grandmother, Noy. I come from a long line of artisans who crafted textiles and molded gold into jewelry in southern Laos. Grandma Noy weaved Lao sinhs and traded with other talented loomers.
She often took me to markets in other provinces like Xieng Khoang. This was when I first laid eyes on the megalithic jars that scattered all across this famous northern land. These ancient treasures have mystified archaeologists, historians, and other experts from all over the world.
Who made them? And why?
Spellbound by the jars, I ran amongst them, placing my tiny hands over weathered surfaces, tracing faint etchings and elusive motifs in reverence. Unlike the experts, I didn’t have to wonder about their origin or purpose. Grandmother Noy shared the secret with me: “The people of Laos are descendants of giants. Our ancestors made these beautiful jars to store padeak and Lao Lao.”
I believed her completely. These jars are our inheritance.
