Some Basic Facts and Information
History
Bane Tangvai, an ancient village of the Kataaang tribe, exists since many generations. And since many generation a tale is told: the tale of the divine cow, the cow of the sun, and her bones which can be found in the village- the biggest bones ever seen.
The Bones were taboo: disturbing or touching them would bring disease and misfortune which could only be prevented by offering of chickens, pigs or cattle according to the degree of violation.
Places to visit and to find fossils
Bane Tangvai is virtually buried in bones. We found them everywhere in the surroundings. The on-site museum is about 1,500 metres north-east from the village. However, maintenance is difficult and at present the bones are on exhibition in Savannakhet. As soon as funds are available we will copy the bones from Savannakhet and display them in Tangvai village-this could start within the next few months. A small quest house can accommodate overnight visitors.
More dinosaur bones were discovered in 1996 in the area of Bane Kabong and Bane Vieng Louang, in Atsaphone district. These villages are very remote and old traditions are still intact. In fact you will see the daily life corresponds to the tales of our parents during the rice harvest season, the village youth still meet in he fields, the young men can visit their chosen girl in her rice hut. If, however, a girl is heard screaming, the village immediately punishes the boy.
The visitor to those villages should understand their remoteness-expectations shall not be too high and if is better to send a guide ahead for preparations of an over-night stay.
In 1996, dinosaur footprints were discovered approximately 200 meters to the north from the Lao-Hungarian friendship bridge imprinted into the stone river embankment of the Sesamsoy.
The region is prepared to cater for tourists and is situated area.
Some of the fossils found in Laos are better preserved and more impressive than those found in surrounding countries. There are bones from the legs and feet, nails, complete rib cages and parts of the pelvis of the bigger Diplodocus family. According to the French researchers, four species of dinosaurs are represented in the finds.