Pottery recovered in northern Laos is helping to understand a transitional period in the history of Laos.  Stamped embossed terracotta pottery excavated at Wat Ban Vieng in Xieng Khouang province in northern Laos in February 2016 appears to be from the 17th -18th centuries.  This correlates with end of the Lan Xang period (1350-1720) in Laos, a time that was known as ‘the Age of Commerce’ throughout Asia (1300 -1680). This was a significant time in the history for Laos during which Laos developed its own writing system and adopted Theravada Buddhism.

This project analyses pottery decoration to answer questions such as whether the pottery was uniquely local; what the motifs reveal about the culture, world views, and cosmology of the people of the area; and whether they reflect religious influences such as Theravada Buddhism. The answers may shed light on the role of Laos in Asia during the Age of Commerce.

Pottery decorations, often being specific to cultural communities or civilizations in this research were catalogued and counted. Literature review into the Lan Xang Period, the Age of Commerce and trade routes through Laos, Theravada Buddhism and Naga art and mythology was conducted. Further research was through becoming a part the Southeast Asian Ceramic Archaeologist email list where information and photos of Southeast Asian pottery were exchanged amongst the group.

Upon analysis, there were about five different types of motifs. The types included circular, s shaped, triangular tipped, floral and others that did not fit as specific description. Within the groups of motifs, there were several different types.  Some of the literature reviews, particularly on Naga Art, descriptions Naga motifs are comparable to the motifs embossed on the pottery.  The mythology of Naga seems to have been adopted by Theravada Buddhism which spread throughout Southeast Asia during the ‘Age of Commerce.’

Theravada Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka. Its adoption into Laos occurred during the Lan Xang Period and Age of Commerce, a time of large amounts of contact and interaction between other Asian countries and European visitors. Motifs on the pottery recovered in Laos, dated from this era, are very similar to the descriptions of Naga and other motifs adopted by Theravada.  Such symbols have their own meanings which reflect both the Loas cosmology and zodiac symbols.  These symbols also have the potential to be trace to their origins, hence opening up the links to the interactions of trade and religion during the Age of Commerce.