Acoustic measurements and digital image processing suggest a link between sound rituals and sacred sites in northern Finland

Riitta Rainio, Antti Lahelma, Tiina Äikäs, Kai Lassfolk, Jari Okkonen

Tutkimustuotos: ArtikkelijulkaisuArtikkeliTieteellinenvertaisarvioitu

Abstrakti

In northern Finland, near the canyon lakes of Julma-Ölkky, Somerjärvi and Rotkojärvi, steep rock cliffs produce distinctive acoustic spaces. On these cliffs, prehistoric rock paintings (5200 to 1000 BC) as well as an ancient Sámi offering site (circa 1100 to present) can be found. Ethnographic sources describe that the Sámi used to sing and listen to echoes while making offerings there. This article presents the results of an archaeoacoustic research project that seeks to explore the role of sound in the development and use of these archaeological sites. The innovative set of methods includes multichannel impulse response recording, angle-of-arrival estimation of early reflections, spectrum analysis, digital image processing and 3D laser scanning. On the basis of the analyses, it is concluded that the cliffs that have been painted or held as sacred are efficient sound reflectors. They create discrete echoes and, accordingly, phantom sound sources. Especially at the Värikallio cliff near Lake Somerjärvi, the sound appears to emanate directly from the painted figures. These results, together with previously unnoticed drumming figures in the Värikallio painting, provide a clue to the significance of the sound rituals at these sacred sites.
Alkuperäiskielienglanti
LehtiJournal of Archaeological Method and Theory
Vuosikerta25
Numero2
Sivut453-474
Sivumäärä22
ISSN1072-5369
DOI - pysyväislinkit
TilaJulkaistu - 17 heinäk. 2017
OKM-julkaisutyyppiA1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä, vertaisarvioitu

Tieteenalat

  • 615 Historia ja arkeologia
  • 6131 Teatteri, tanssi, musiikki, muut esittävät taiteet

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