Acoustic Rock Art Landscapes: A comparison between the Acoustics of three Levantine Rock Art areas in Mediterranean Spain

Díaz-Andreu, M. ; Garcia Benito, Carlos

Resumen: This article focuses on the relationship between acoustics and rock art in Levantine art in Mediterranean Spain. It takes as a case study three rock art areas where Levantine-style rock art was produced: the Valltorta Gorge, the Mortero Gorge and the Godall mountains. The study centres on the analysis of reverberation and echoes. In each area a comparison was made between the acoustic properties of sections of the area with rock art and of others with none. Different sounds were also tested in order to identify which possible instruments had the best chance of producing a sensory reaction. Although we cannot hypothesise on the specific practices that may have taken place in these areas, we conclude with the proposition that the acoustic properties of a site indicate a sacred use of the landscape, in which sound was a key element of ritual performance.

Idioma: Inglés

Año: 2015

Publicado en: Rock art research 32, 1 (2015), 46-62
ISSN: 0813-0426

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.377 - Archeology (Q1) - Visual Arts and Performing Arts (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1) - Anthropology (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)