Acoustics of the West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury, Wiltshire

Research on the West Kennet Long Barrow, part of the Avebury complex in Wiltshire, reveals that its two pairs of transepted chambers resonate at frequencies forming a 'perfect fourth' ratio (4:3), mirroring their 4:3 plan proportions. This acoustic phenomenon, also observed in other Cotswold-Severn tombs, suggests deliberate design for musical or ritual purposes. Additionally, the central passage's low-frequency resonance may have had psychological effects, potentially used in Neolithic rituals. The study builds on a 2011 preliminary investigation, using acoustical analysis to explore these properties.

Marshall, S. (2016). Acoustics of the West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury, Wiltshire. Time and Mind, 9(1), 43–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/1751696x.2016.1142292