Archaeoacoustics: A Qualitative Study of the Impact of Frequency-Dependent Sound on Human Thought and Feeling in a Bronze Age Cave in Morayshire (original) (raw)

The proposed research project aims to collect primary qualitative data from between 5 and 10 participants after listening to drumming between frequencies of 90 and 120Hz for two minutes in a late Bronze Age cave in Morayshire. Each frequency of 90, 100, 110, and 120Hz will be drummed at two beats per second for two minutes. After each frequency has been played the participant will be asked to complete a questionnaire with 10 questions pertaining to their thoughts and feelings during the two minute drumming period. See fig.1 below for position of drummer (D) and participants (P). Fig 1. Map of the cave showing position of drummer and participants. The drummer is positioned in that area as in the 1928 and 1979 excavations mandibles and skull fragments were recovered from this 10ft square area of the cave. If the human remains were deposited here then it may be postulated that ceremonial or ritualistic behaviours occurred in this area of the cave that involved sound.