Domus De Janas

Domus de Janas ( Sardinian for 'House of the Fairies' or, alternatively, 'House of Witches') are a type of pre-Nuragic rock-cut chamber tomb found in Sardinia. They consist of several chambers quarried out by the people of the San Ciriaco through Ozieri cultures''Domus de Janas'', Portale Sardo
and subsequent cultures, resembling houses in their layout.

Built mostly between 3400 and 2700 BC, they date to the late Neolithic, Chalcolithic and early Bronze Age, including the Bell Beaker period. A necropolis of them at the site of Anghelu Ruju, near Alghero, consists of 38 tombs. Other large sites are those of '' Montessu'', near Villaperuccio, and of '' Sant'Andrea Priu'' at Bonorva. Many other domus de janas can be found throughout the island, with the exception of Gallura (where the deceased were usually buried in megalithic circles, such as that those of Li Muri).

The shape of the internal chambers can vary from that of a rounded hut with conical or triangular ceiling. The walls are often decorated with reliefs or etchings depicting magical and religious symbols such as spirals, zig-zag motifs and bull's horns.

Carved or painted false doors appear in about 20 tombs mostly located in northwestern Sardinia, an example being some of the tombs of the necropolis of Anghelu Ruju, which are variously datable from the Ozieri to the Bonnanaro cultures (c.3200 – 1600 BCE). The earliest examples predate the appearance of false doors in Ancient Egyptian tombs. These false doors usually appear on the back wall of the main chamber, and are represented by horizontal and vertical frames and a projecting lintel. Sometimes the door is topped with painted or carved U-shaped bull horns, inscribed inside each other in a variable number.

The corpses, painted with red ochre like the tomb's walls, were buried together with common life objects, jewels and tools. According to archaeologist Giovanni Lilliu, they were buried under shells of molluscs; according to other theories, they were left outside the tomb, being put inside only after they had reduced to a skeleton.

In 2021, the Domus de Janas were nominated for the World Heritage List.

Gallery

File:Porto Torres - Su Crucifissu Mannu (2).JPG, Bull's horns, necropolis of Su Crucifissu Mannu, Porto Torres
File:Bonorva - S.Andrea Priu - La Tomba a camera.jpg, Interior of one of the Domus de Janas of Sant'Andrea Priu, Bonorva.
File:Re-exposure of s'elighe entosu domus III 4.jpg, Domus de Janas of S'Elighe Entosu.
File:Genna Salixi - Domus de Janas.jpg, Entrance of the domus de janas of Genna Salixi, Ruinas
File:Lotzorai domus de janas 2.jpg, Domus de Janas in Lotzorai
File:Interno Domus de Janas.JPG, Interior of a Domus de Janas
File:Porto Torres - Su Crucifissu Mannu (5).JPG, Su Crucifissu Mannu
File:Nughedu Santa Vittoria - Necropoli di Arzolas de Goi (12).JPG, Necropolis of Arzolas de Goi, Nughedu Santa Vittoria
File:Putifigari, necropoli di Monte Siseri (13).jpg, Pre-Nuragic false door topped with bull horns, from Putifigari
File:Bonorva - S.Andrea Priu - La Tomba del capo - Pianta.jpg, Plan of the Tomb of the Chief, Necropolis of Sant'Andrea Priu.

See also

* History of Sardinia
* Pre-Nuragic Sardinia
* Necropolis of Santu Pedru
* Hypogeum
* Enchanted Moura

References

Domus de Janas
on the Atlas Obscura.

Bibliography

* Giovanni Lilliu, ''La civiltà dei Sardi dal neolitico all'età dei nuraghi'', Torino, Edizioni ERI, 1967
* AA.VV. ''La civiltà in Sardegna nei secoli'', Torino, Edizioni ERI
* AA.VV., Ichnussa. ''Sardegna dalle origini all'età classica'', Milano, 1981
* Alberto Moravetti, ''Guide archeologiche Sardegna 2'', 1995

{{DEFAULTSORT:Domus De Janas
Burial monuments and structures
Archaeology of death
Archaeological sites in Sardinia