Pixelated Semantics

Archaeoacoustics

Archaeoacoustics is a fairly recent field of research, originally based on the premise that one can retrieve sounds or other vibrational information from materials predating the invention of audio technology. Recently expanded to include the discovery that rock art and other ancient cultural sites frequently have related natural acoustic properties. Also includes "lithophonic" sites, where the landscape itself is playable as an instrument, for example the "singing stones" found in Kenya, India, and other places including Australia. Here are some worthwhile points of reference:

Steven J. Waller's Rock Art Acoustics page (including his list of "approximately three hundred rock art sites with known sound reflection and/or unusual acoustic properties"); and a magazine article on Waller's work.

Christer Hamp's page ("recovery of sounds from the time before the invention of recording") and the "archaeoacoustic player".

The wonderful Fortean Times has a review of Paul Devereux's book on Archaeoacoustics "Stone Age Soundtracks", [though unfortunately their feature on this topic from the October 2004 issue seems not to be online yet].

Dr. Aaron Watson's illuminating Megalithic Sound and Landscape site.

Victor Reijs's index.

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