Using scale modelling to assess the prehistoric acoustics of Stonehenge

Stonehenge's prehistoric acoustics were significantly enhanced, with stone reflections creating an average mid-frequency reverberation time of 0.64 ± 0.03 seconds and amplifying speech by 4.3 ± 0.9 dB. This study used acoustic scale modelling, a novel approach for prehistoric monuments, to quantify these effects. Unlike the current ruin or a full-size replica, the model's accurate representation of ancient geometry revealed that Stonehenge's sound environment improved both musical sounds and speech communication within its circle compared to outside. While different configurations of bluestones had minimal impact on acoustics, suggesting sound was not the primary motivation for their arrangement, the findings imply that ritualistic activities at Stonehenge likely involved sophisticated auditory experiences.

Cox, T. J., Fazenda, B. M., & Greaney, S. E. (2020). Using scale modelling to assess the prehistoric acoustics of Stonehenge. Journal of Archaeological Science, 122, 105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105218