In the rugged heart of Sardinia, Italian archaeologists have excavated three ornately decorated underground tombs, known as the Domus de Janas, or “houses of the fairies.” These 5,000-year-old subterranean tombs, buried beneath centuries of earth and hidden near the famous Sant’Andrea Priu tombs, were once home to the Neolithic population, who believed the afterlife was similar to the here and now. This discovery brings the total number of tombs found on the site to an increased count and provides a unique insight into the prehistoric burial practices of the island, 18 domus de janas, which in July 2025 were recognised by UNESCO as a collective World Heritage Site. It also sheds new light on the symbolic art and spiritual beliefs that shaped early human communities in the Mediterranean.
