Songs of the stones: An Investigation into the acoustic culture of stonehenge

Abstract

This paper is an investigation into the acoustic culture of Stonehenge. It begins by discussing the importance of music and sound in the life of an aural/oral culture, and its importance as ritual technology. It goes on to provide background about the site in prehistory and in popular culture. Thomas Hardy's writing about Stonehenge raises the question of whether there are significant acoustic features at the site. There is then a study of the acoustics of Stonehenge, beginning with existing work on the subject and a theoretical consideration. It goes on to study the acoustics of a full size replica and a digital model before discussing the results of field tests in the stone circle itself. It concludes that the sonic features of Stonehenge were noticeable and significant, and that it is likely that they were a part of the ritual culture of the site.