SRC — Ancient Structures
Folder: 05 - SOURCE MATERIAL Supporting: Ancient Structures as Resonators
The Field — Foundational Sources
Scarre, C. & Lawson, G. (eds.) — Archaeoacoustics (2006) McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge University Press. The volume that formally established archaeoacoustics as a recognised archaeological subdiscipline.
Annual Reviews — Archaeoacoustics Research (2025) https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-anthro-071323-113540 Comprehensive current overview of the field. Documents instruments, acoustic spaces, and psychoacoustic research.
The 110 Hz / Brain Activity Studies
Cook, I.A. et al. — UCLA (2008) EEG monitoring of healthy volunteers exposed to different resonance frequencies. Key finding: at 110 Hz, prefrontal cortex activity shifted from left to right-sided dominance. Language centre deactivated. Emotional processing activated. Referenced across multiple peer-reviewed archaeoacoustics publications. #verified — replicated across multiple labs
Debertolis, P. & Bisconti, N. Universities of Trieste and Siena. EEG testing at Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, University of Trieste. Individual activation frequencies 90–120 Hz. Meditative and visual states documented at specific frequencies. Published in: Proceedings of Conference Archaeoacoustics: The Archaeology of Sound, Malta, February 19–22, 2014.
Debertolis, P., Tirelli, G. & Monti, F. “Systems of acoustic resonance in ancient sites and related brain activity” Proceedings of the same Malta conference. Available: sbresearchgroup.eu
Malta — Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
UNESCO World Heritage designation: 1980 https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/130
Zahra, R. & Italian Research Team Documented 110 Hz resonance in Oracle Room. Resonance matches Newgrange and other Neolithic chambers globally.
Archaeoacoustic Analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta University of Malta OAR: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/16630/1/OA%20Archaeoacoustic%20Analysis%20of%20the%20%C4%A6al%20Saflieni%20Hypogeum%20in%20Malta.pdf Full peer-reviewed paper. Measurements, EEG results, methodology documented.
Stonehenge
Cox, T. & Fazenda, B. — University of Salford (2020) Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 122: 105218 Scale model acoustic reconstruction. Finding: sound amplified inside circle, dampened outside. Impulse response 0.6–0.8 seconds.
Till, R. — University of Huddersfield Mathematical acoustic analysis of Stonehenge plans + field measurements at Maryhill Monument, Washington State. Project documentation: https://www.bradshawfoundation.com/stonehenge/stonehenge_sounds/
Royal College of Art & Bournemouth University (2013) Published in Time and Mind Finding: Preseli bluestones produce distinct musical sounds when struck.
Newgrange
Jahn, R. et al. — Princeton PEAR Lab Technical Report PEAR 95002, March 1995. Six UK/Ireland megalithic sites measured. All showed strong acoustic response 95–120 Hz. Newgrange peaked at ~110 Hz.
Watson, A. & Keating, D. Published in Antiquity. Helmholtz resonance effects in British passage graves. 1–7 Hz — below hearing, felt as physical pressure in body. verified
Chichén Itzá
Lubman, D. (1998) Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 104: 2285. Documented quetzal chirp echo effect at El Castillo pyramid. First peer-reviewed documentation of the effect.
Declercq, N.F. et al. (2004) Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Theoretical study of acoustic effects caused by El Castillo staircase. Confirmed diffraction grating mechanism.
Chavín de Huántar, Peru
Kolar, M. et al. — Stanford University Studied spatial and acoustic attributes. Found structure holds same resonance as pututu ritual shells used at the site. Published: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
Still To Source
- King’s Chamber Great Pyramid acoustic measurements — 440 Hz resonance claim needs primary source verification #investigate
- Direct link between phi/pi dimensions and 110 Hz resonance production — mathematical relationship to be modelled #investigate
- Watson & Keating — full Antiquity paper citation needed
- Sub-harmonic relationship between 110 Hz and 440 Hz tuning standard — worth modelling investigate