Case file · Fairy lore
Domus de janas, the fairy houses of Sardinia
Sardinia has over 2,000 rock-cut tombs of c. 3500–2700 BC, called 'domus de janas', houses of the janas: tiny fairies or witches who wove gold on golden looms and guarded treasure. Anghelu Ruju near Alghero is the largest necropolis.
3,500 BCE · 40.63, 8.33 · status: legend
The sceptical view
The tombs are Neolithic burials; the fairy names come from much later folklore.