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Tommyknockers
Mine spirits who knock on walls to warn of cave-ins—or to lead miners to rich ore. Cornish miners brought belief in them to America. Some say they're ghosts of dead miners, still working underground.
1800 - Present
Cornwall, England / American West
1000+ witnesses
Tommyknockers (or Knockers) are supernatural beings from mining folklore, particularly in Cornwall and the American West.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
Tommyknockers:
- Dwell in mines
- Make knocking sounds
- Warn of cave-ins
- Lead to ore deposits
- Must be respected
Origin
The belief began in:
- Cornwall tin mines
- Traveled to America
- With Cornish miners
- In the 1800s
- Spread to gold and silver mines
Appearance
Described as:
- Two feet tall
- Wizened old men
- Mining clothes
- Large heads
- Sometimes invisible
The Knocking
The sounds mean:
- Warning of collapse
- Direction to rich ore
- Presence of the spirits
- Communication
- Danger or fortune
Keeping Them Happy
Miners would:
- Leave food offerings
- The last bite of pasty
- Never whistle underground
- Show respect
- Thank them for warnings
Theories
Tommyknockers might be:
- Ghosts of dead miners
- Earth spirits
- Fairy folk
- Sound illusions from geology
- Collective belief