In the rugged heart of Sardinia, Italian archaeologists have excavated three beautifully decorated underground tombs, known as the Domus di Janas, or “houses of the fairies.” These 5,000-year-old underground tombs, buried beneath the earth for centuries and hidden near the famous St. Andrea Preu tombs, were once home to a Neolithic population who believed that the afterlife was similar to the here and now. The discovery increases the total number of graves found at the site and provides a unique insight into the prehistoric burial practices of the island, 18 Domus de Janas, which were recognized as a Collective World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2025.
What ‘fairy house ‘in Italy
Domus de Janas are small, beehive-shaped rooms carved directly into the rock, sometimes accessed through short tunnels, leading to one or more rooms. In Sardinia, these are called “fairy houses” or “witches’ houses”, based on the island’s oral history, which has long described these small caves as the homes of magical creatures rather than burial sites. In the rooms, several carved bench niches from the Domus de Janas, as well as displays of symbolic designs such as spirals, bulls’ horns and false doors, which researchers believe provide insight into the beliefs of ancient Sardinians regarding the journey of the soul.As the BBC reports, modern archeology has classified the Domus de Janas as essential evidence of Neolithic burial practices as well as the beginning of the Copper Age, which spans the period from about 3400 to 2700 BC. The small, intimate nature of the structures has led researchers to believe that the ancient Sardinians believed that the afterlife would be a continuation of the present, with the deceased living in their own homes, built on rocky ground. Sardinian heritage experts have tried to reassure the public that the Domus di Janas are in fact far from myth, as they provide real evidence of ancient Sardinian ritual practices.
New discovery in St. Andrea Priu
The three recently discovered Domus de Janas have been discovered as part of a comprehensive program in the field of cultural heritage, which is being sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Culture. The program is designed to improve the facilities and excavate the Domus de Janas in the Milogu area of northern Sardinia. At the archaeological complex of Sant’Andrea Priu in the town of Bonorva, the team had previously identified several tombs in the area, but were prompted to restart their work due to slight discrepancies in the terrain between the two known hypogea.What they discovered was a series of three underground tombs in remarkably good condition, still showing traces of paint and decoration placed within the tombs as a form of ritual care and meditation. One of the tombs, yet to be named Tomb XX, is particularly complex in its design and contains seven chambers and more than thirty pieces of Roman-era artefacts, including jugs, plates and oil lamps, suggesting that the site was highly respected even in later years. Italian authorities have noted that the architectural style is consistent with prehistoric tombs discovered in the island and that the discovery will significantly increase our knowledge of the early history of human habitation in Sardinia.
Why do these 5,000-year-old tombs matter today?
The Domus de Janas are not just beautifully carved caves, but a part of a wider prehistoric history, including Nuraghi towers, stone settlements, as well as vast necropolises. In fact, UNESCO recognized a series of Sardinia’s ancient stone structures by 2025, highlighting the idea that these sites, taken together, help us understand the history of the island before the Romans or any other recent occupation of Italy. For local archaeologists, the discovered graves provide a level of depth to the history of the island, including burial practices throughout history as well as the way social groups used the same sacred spaces.Experts associated with the Sant’Andrea Priu project have publicly stated the fact that the Domus di Janus has recreated the map of recognizable funerary sites in central Sardinia, proving that, even after two centuries of sporadic excavations, there are still many mysteries to be uncovered. An archaeologist quoted by the Italian Ministry of Culture has referred to the hypogea as “the silent dwelling of the ancient world”, where the careful positioning of bodies and objects reveals the depth of the community’s understanding of the universe.The juxtaposition of ancient Sardinian carvings as well as more contemporary Roman artefacts serves as a reminder of how reverence can span thousands of years, as the world itself continues to evolve.
From fairy tale to heritage: how Sardinia keeps the past alive
‘Fairy house’ is a term that sounds magical and storybook, but in Sardinia, it has already become a reflective challenge to consider how we can see the real archeology behind the legend. Once the restoration and security work is complete, the Domus de Janas is ready to roll out the welcome mat to tourists and locals alike, turning these sites into an open-air history book that you can wander through. Guides and historians are working on materials that connect the original doors and benches carved into the rock.The Neolithic inhabitants and their beliefs and practices make these 5,000-year-old chambers feel less like relics and more like ancestral rooms reopened to us.For both tourists and locals, the rediscovery of these hidden rock tombs is also a reminder that beneath our Sardinian surface, there is another world: stone houses, quiet corridors, and symbols that have been part of our identity for millennia. These “fairy houses” are not retreats from history, but rather the most intimate records of it, carved directly into the rock beneath our feet.
