Mystic South

Elves, Dwarves and Faires are some of the most mysterious figures in all of Northern European religions and folklore from Heathenry to celtic paganism and everything in-between. Often thanks to modern media elves are seen as benevolent guardians of nature, Dwarves seen as diminutive blacksmiths and faries as either adorable sprites or horrible monsters. However, the real picture of Elves, Dwarves and Faries gets far more complex as we go further into the past. Is it possible that in medieval Europe Elves, Dwarves and Faries were one in the same? In order to solve this question and to better understand where these figures fit in pagan religions this workshop will examine the archaeological and textual evidence of all three of these beings ranging from the rock art and megaliths Europe's Bronze age and Early Iron age to the Anglo saxon Elf shot charms and Weyland the Smith.