They are carved out of solid rock.

Archeologic consensus seems to be part of burial process.

Phonsavan is in a large valley.

More than 50 sites are spread around.

This is part of the imaginitively named Site 1. 

Its thought that the original lids were perishable.

This disc would have been on the ground as a burial marker.

We aren't experts. There were Pathet Lao and Vietcong in the area.

No excuse though (in our humble opinion) for the mess the US left behind.

This white marker indicates that "all" unexploded ordnance (UXO) has been cleared to the left of the marker. A mammoth job,

There were 127 pieces of UXO cleared from a few acres of this site 1. 

The area the other side of the marker has been cleared of surface UXO. But not buried stuff.

I guess its safe to dig the garden.

The photo was taken by a passing Lao tourist from Vientiane.

Carrying rice seedings for planting.

The ridges on the outside are presumably erosion from rain.

The icon in the center is apparently a frog, though we have our doubts.

We walked along the dry bits in between the fields.

This gentleman was up to his knees in mud.

When we think about it we also haven't seen many insects. There are more in Aus.

It may be the time of year but its certainly not the mosquito infested tropic we had been warned about.

This dragonfly stopped for a convenient rest.

So did the local workers having started early and finished their shift in the rice fields before the day got to its hottest part.

Although we are at 1000m the temperatures are still in the low 30s deg C.

In the grounds of the Mew XiengKhouang Hotel.

Walking distance to the center of town.