Sound Expert Raves About Stonehenge 'Concert' Acoustics

Early residents may have rocked out at ancient site
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 5, 2009 2:20 AM CST
Sound Expert Raves About Stonehenge 'Concert' Acoustics
An archaeologist works at a Stonehenge dig. many mysteries remain about the purpose and origins of the 4,000-year-old structure.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth/file)

A temple, burial site, place of sacrifice ... and Neolithic concert venue? The latest research on England's endlessly fascinating Stonehenge claims the site had remarkable acoustics, ideal for amplifying trace-like rhythms, and was likely used for something like ancient religious raves. A sound expert made the discovery by analyzing the acoustics in a Stonehenge computer model, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"The most interesting thing is we managed to get the whole space to resonate, almost like a wine glass will ring if you run a finger round it," he said. "While that was happening, a simple drum beat sounded incredibly dramatic. The space had real character; it felt like we had gone somewhere special."

(More Stonehenge stories.)

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