Archaeological excavations on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia have revealed three previously unknown ancient "fairy houses".
The Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Sassari and Nuoro confirmed the findings on July 29.
These newly discovered 5,000-year-old chambers, locally termed domus de janas, originate from the late Neolithic period and Copper Age and bring the total number of structures to 20.
Regional mythology associates these structures with supernatural inhabitants, though archaeological evidence confirms their function as burial sites.
Archaeological excavations on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia have revealed three previously unknown ancient 'fairy houses'
|Soprintendenza Sassari e Nuoro
The term domus de janas translates from Sardinian folklore, where these chambers were imagined as dwellings for fairy-like creatures or magical entities.
Archaeological evidence demonstrates these structures served as burial chambers rather than habitations for mythical beings.
The chambers were located through analysis of terrain characteristics between existing tombs, which indicated potential undiscovered structures beneath the surface.
The excavations revealed a fan-shaped arrangement of the three chambers extending from an existing structure called the Tomb of the Hearth.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
They form part of the Sant'Andrea Priu archaeological site, which has gained recent recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Mediterranean island, situated south of Corsica, has become renowned for both its coastal attractions and archaeological heritage.
Seventeen such rock-carved chambers had been documented at the site prior to this excavation campaign.
The superintendency stated that "this new discovery enriches knowledge of the domus de janas – tombs carved into rock that often reproduce, in relief, details of the houses of the living and symbolic decorations linked to magical-religious rituals."
The Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Sassari and Nuoro confirmed the findings on July 29
|Soprintendenza Sassari e Nuoro
Excavators recovered substantial archaeological material from the chambers, with finds spanning multiple historical periods.
Among the discoveries were stone implements including pickaxes and a miniature greenstone axe, alongside a spindle whorl used in textile production.
Fragments of obsidian and ceramic sherds were distributed throughout the sites. The chamber designated as the Tomb of the Roman Vases yielded particularly rich finds, featuring decorative painted bands on its walls.
This specific tomb contained more than thirty ceramic items from the Roman period, encompassing oil lamps, serving plates and vessels for liquids.
Archaeological authorities confirmed these artefacts remained in "excellent condition" despite their considerable age.
The mortuary structures represent significant examples of prehistoric funerary architecture on Sardinia, demonstrating sophisticated stone-carving techniques from over five millennia ago.
The chambers' designs often incorporated symbolic elements connected to religious or ritualistic practices of Neolithic and Copper Age communities.