Mysterious giant stone jars discovered all over India
India has not yet finished delivering its hidden treasures. Amazing giant stone jars were unearthed by a team of researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), North-Eastern Hill University and Gauhati University in April 2022 in the Assam region, in India. This archaeological discovery is very interesting even if the origin and function of these 65 sandstone jars remain largely unknown. In total, archaeologists have identified seven jar sites located in Saipung, New Plang Moi, Thuruk, Mualhoi, Mualsei Thialsen Tlang, Mualsei Neng Seng and Mualsei Lungmaicham.
These giant stone jars have been discovered across India and Indonesia. These are representative elements of the Hindu culture and rituals. The first stone jar sites were unearthed in northeast India around 1929 by James Philip Mills and John Henry Hutton.
This team has already published an article in the journal ScienceDirect to describe the excavations she launched in February 2020 in the Saipung Subdivision in the Eastern Jaintia Hills.
Stone jars used for rituals
Located near a natural sandstone deposit, these jar sites are laid out in a particular way. They are most often found on level ground built on top of a hill and dominating the surrounding landscape. Archaeologists have discovered that the mysterious jars are located neartwin ponds oblong in shape dug into the ground, separated by a circular stone slab placed in the center.
The stone jars discovered in Saipung Forest are composed of giant stone stars and circular shaped flat stones. Their arrangement in clusters and their varied shapes have challenged researchers and suggest that they were used for rituals.
Relics to reconstruct the way of life of a disappeared people
The excavations unearthed other old objects made by an extinct people who once populated India. The archaeologists have notably identified potsherds, a stone stopper, iron spearheads, a small glass bead and charred pieces of human bone.
These relics made it possible to know a little more about the way of life of this ancient people relatively unknown. For example, broken sandstone slabs discovered near Mualsei Neng Seng depicting engravings of animals and human motifs depict the daily life of men and domestic animals. Above all, the stone jars provided key information about the mortuary practices of those who made and used them.
SOURCE: HERITAGEDAILY
