Pimentel, Necropolis of S'Acqua Salida and Corongiu

The necropolis is located on short elevations of quaternary sandstone, in the gently undulating landscape of the Trexenta.
It is divided into two areas 150 m apart: the first consists of domus de janas of the type with horizontal projection and cockpit (1, 2, 3, 4), the other from a domus to a cockpit (5, 6, 7).
Tomb 1 is particularly remarkable, the result of several construction phases: originally of the cockpit type with an antechel and a large cell, then equipped with a long access corridor instead of the well and expanded to the right of the large cell, annexing three burial rooms to a neighboring burial. The antechel has the frame painted in red ochre. The entrance faces SO.
Tomb 2 consists of an access shaft and a rectangular cell whose ceiling, partially collapsed, was originally supported by two pillars. On the floor there is a bathtub where cups are cut out. The wall opposite the entrance has an ornate red ochre painting: two taurine protomes with a T-pattern inside a rectangular box. The color red and the taurine protome are the most common signs of Sardinian Neolithic religiosity.
Tomb 4 is divided into an access corridor, an antechel and a cell. The entrance is oriented to E. The circular cell reproduces the diagram of the hut: this is demonstrated by the details of the walls and ceiling where there are large relief bands simulating the roof and its wooden support system.
Next to the first group of tombs is a sacred area with a fireplace and cups, probably intended for the funeral rituals that preceded the burial.
The domus 5, 6, 7 are of the cockpit type with an antechel and a cell. The cell in Tomb 6 has a rectangular niche decorated with red ochre, a burial counter and a pillar. Other cups are engraved in the rock above the second group of tombs.
The necropolis dates back to the late Neolithic period (culture of San Michele, 3200-2800 BC), but there is no lack of evidence of reuse during the ancient Bronze Age (Bonnanaro culture, 1800-1600 BC).
The most famous domus in the nearby necropolis of Corongiu also dates back to the late Neolithic period. Violated from time immemorial, it consists of an access well, an anticell and a cell. The access wall to the cell, above and on the sides of the door, shows a very interesting symbolic ornament engraved and highlighted in red. The upper band is decorated in the center by a vertical element that opens at the top in two spirals: the nose and the eyes of the mother goddess, according to the interpretation of the scholars. On the lower sides, a zigzag line is limited to the right by a spiral and to the left by two double circles. Above, on the sides of the double spiral or eyes of the goddess, there are two “boat” motifs with spiral endings. Two long vertical elements that open above and below in two spirals decorate the walls on the sides of the hatch.

History of excavations
The site was the subject of an archaeological investigation conducted by Emerenziana Usai.

Bibliography
E. Usai, “The Ozieri culture in Pimentel and Siddi”, in The culture of Ozieri: problems and new acquisitions. Proceedings of the first study conference, Ozieri, Il Torchietto, 1988, pp. 217-222;
E. Usai, “Pimentel (Cagliari) Loc. It's Acqua Salida”, in I Sardi. Sardinia from the Paleolithic to the Roman Age, edited by E. Anati, Milan, Jaca Book, 1984, pp. 113-118.

How to get there
Once you take the SS 131 the 128 and after 10 km, you take the SP 66 bis. After 6 km you reach Pimentel. From the town square, take the municipal road to Guasila that leads to the necropolis of Corongiu (turning to the first cart on the S. and continuing for 1 km) and to the necropolis of S'Acqua Salida (turning to the fourth cart on the S. and continuing for 150 m).