1999/06/01 by Aaron Watson, David Keating · 114 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Psychology · #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Maritime and Coastal Archaeology #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Megalith #Prehistory #Sound (geography) #Archaeology #Architecture #Articulation (sociology) #History #Perception #Geography #Geology #Psychology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0003598x00088281
published in Antiquity 73(280), 325-336 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 1999/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/08
Prehistoric monuments in Britain are often dominant features in the landscape, and archaeological theory has tended to consider the visual and spatial influences of their architecture upon peoples' movement and perception. The articulation of sound within these structures has not been widely discussed, despite evidence which suggests that many monuments provided settings for gatherings of people. This possibility was explored at two contrasting sites in Scotland, a recumbent stone circle and a passage-grave, revealing that the elemental acoustic properties inherent in each may have literally orchestrated encounters with the stones.