Largest Jars at Plain of Jars - Biggest Jars at PDJ - HoboMaps.com - Plain of Jars Info Page - - - - HOME

This web page contains photos and measurements of the largest stone jars found at Jar Sites 1, 2, 3, & 16 during our visits to the Plain of Jars in May and October 2012. Click HERE to see Plain of Jars map showing Jar Site 1 at grid code KQ204, Jar Site 2 at grid code NG202 & Jar Site 3 at grid code NW200

The biggest jar shown below is the King Jar at Site 1 Upper Level which is estimated as 4 cubic meters of solid sandstone and weighing about 9,688 kilograms (21,363 pounds or over 10 tons).

the two jars below are from Jar Site 16 at Ban Phai near the old Phuan capital Muang Khoun - the location and route can be seen on this map HERE

The calculations estimate cubic meters of volume and their finished weights using a density standard of 2,300 kilograms weight per cubic meter of stone for sandstone jars and 2,650 kilograms per cubic meter of granite for the granite jars at Site 16. Precise measurements and calculations are not possible since many of the jars are partially buried and some interiors are partially filled with mud, vegetation and other debris.

Finished weight means the weight of the jar as we see it now with the interior hollowed out and this would likely be its transport weight.

Jar volume is calculated using the formula for cylinders = "pi (the constant 3.1416) times radius squared times height" . Most jars are shaped like cylinders - average diameters and heights are estimated when irregularities occur.

The diameter of the jar's outer area and the aperture (or opening) are key measurements and one-half of the diameter equals the radius for the formula. The other key measurements are the exterior height and the interior depth. All measurements are in meters and the calculated weights are in kilograms.

The tape measure shown in the pictures has meters shown in red numbers and tenths of a meter in black figures. Viewers should be able to check some of our measurements themselves by viewing the pictures with measuring tape and making their own calculations.

Abbreviations: kg = kilogram, cu = cubic, mtr = meter