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Stonehenge mystery
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skyblue1
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:41 pm    Post subject: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Stonehenge may have been the place to rock out at trippy Neolithic concerts of sorts — and that may explain why the mysterious circle of stones was erected.

A U.S. researcher suggests that the architects of Stonehenge were inspired by magical "auditory illusions" the stones could produce, according to a Live Science report.

Steven Waller, a researcher who specializes in the sound properties of ancient sites, is challenging common Stonehenge theories that the site was intended for spiritual worship and ceremonial burials.

He suggests that the stones were arranged to create a special sound phenomena that baffled participants of ritual piper dancing, and they may have thought the effect was supernatural.

These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them.

Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.

Waller offered his speculations at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Thursday. His theory suggests that during ritual dances people would have experienced this noise cancellation and most likely attributed it to something otherworldly.

"I think they were experiencing this illusion, thinking it was magic pillars, and then constructed the actual structure," said Waller.

The scientific community is not expected to accept the largely speculative theory with open arms.

"There is no question its main axis is aligned along the mid-summer sunrise and mid-winter sunset and there is widespread agreement that it was used for cremation burials," said Mike Pitts, a leading expert on Stonehenge, to the Telegraph.

But Maller does not expect to settle this seemingly primordial mystery. Instead he simply wishes to emphasize the acoustics of archaeology in rock art like Stonehenge.

"Nobody has been paying attention to sound," Waller said to LiveScience "We've been destroying sound. In some of the French caves, they've widened the tunnels to build little train tracks to take the tourists back - thereby ruining the acoustics that could have been the whole motivation in the first place."


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/stonehenge-mystery-solved-scientist-designed-acoustic-phenomenon-article-1.1024709#ixzz1mnMje76M
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Fnord
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:20 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

skyblue1 wrote:
... A U.S. researcher suggests that the architects of Stonehenge were inspired by magical "auditory illusions" the stones could produce, according to a Live Science report...

No magic was involved. It's only an interference pattern where the sounds of two sources seem louder in certain locations and softer in others.

skyblue1 wrote:
Steven Waller, a researcher who specializes in the sound properties of ancient sites, is challenging common Stonehenge theories that the site was intended for spiritual worship and ceremonial burials.

Nothing new. That idea's been kicking around for generations.

skyblue1 wrote:
He suggests that the stones were arranged to create a special sound phenomena that baffled participants of ritual piper dancing, and they may have thought the effect was supernatural.

Yep. Stone-age flim-flam at its finest!

skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.

So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!

skyblue1 wrote:
Waller offered his speculations at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Thursday. His theory suggests that during ritual dances people would have experienced this noise cancellation and most likely attributed it to something otherworldly.

It's easy to convince ignorant people of the "Supernatural". It's us edgy-mechated people what ain't so easily fooled.

skyblue1 wrote:
"I think they were experiencing this illusion, thinking it was magic pillars, and then constructed the actual structure," said Waller. The scientific community is not expected to accept the largely speculative theory with open arms. "There is no question its main axis is aligned along the mid-summer sunrise and mid-winter sunset and there is widespread agreement that it was used for cremation burials," said Mike Pitts, a leading expert on Stonehenge, to the Telegraph. But Maller does not expect to settle this seemingly primordial mystery. Instead he simply wishes to emphasize the acoustics of archaeology in rock art like Stonehenge. "Nobody has been paying attention to sound," Waller said to LiveScience "We've been destroying sound. In some of the French caves, they've widened the tunnels to build little train tracks to take the tourists back - thereby ruining the acoustics that could have been the whole motivation in the first place."

I think this accoustic effect may have played a part in certain rituals, but that the astronomical alignments are more important.
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Nexus
Seems legit...
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:45 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Fnord wrote:
skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.

So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!


*facepalm* He was quoting the article word for word you know. If you read it, you would have known that. Razz
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Fnord
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:50 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Nexus wrote:
Fnord wrote:
skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.
So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!
*facepalm* He was quoting the article word for word you know. If you read it, you would have known that. Razz

Yes, I read the article. But if you had been reading most of my posts for the last few years, you would have known how much I enjoy driving the point home that there is no magic.
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Alexender
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

babies are so cute they are magical Wink
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Nexus
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:53 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Fnord wrote:
Nexus wrote:
Fnord wrote:
skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.
So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!
*facepalm* He was quoting the article word for word you know. If you read it, you would have known that. Razz

Yes, I read the article. But if you had been reading most of my posts for the last few years, you would have known how much I enjoy driving the point home that there is no magic.


Of course, I've seen you in action in PPR. But you made it sound like you were addressing him, not the article, that's all. Smile
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Kail
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yah Fnord!
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Fnord
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:52 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Nexus wrote:
Fnord wrote:
Nexus wrote:
Fnord wrote:
skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.
So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!
*facepalm* He was quoting the article word for word you know. If you read it, you would have known that. Razz
Yes, I read the article. But if you had been reading most of my posts for the last few years, you would have known how much I enjoy driving the point home that there is no magic.
Of course, I've seen you in action in PPR. But you made it sound like you were addressing him, not the article, that's all. Smile

You inferred it.
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ruveyn
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Acoustic shadows and interference patters are as old as sound. This is something inherent in all wave phenomena.

ruveyn
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skyblue1
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have no problem with Fnords responce. As I have always enjoyed his writings and value his opinion. Good to see ya mate
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Kraichgauer
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unfortunately, short of a time machine, there's no way any of the almost countless theories of Stone Henge can be proven, as it's builders had no written language, and their culture didn't survive into historic times.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
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Vigilans
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I built Stonehenge
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Kraichgauer
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vigilans wrote:
I built Stonehenge


By the way, your new avatar is hilarious. Laughing

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
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naturalplastic
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:17 am    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

Fnord wrote:
skyblue1 wrote:
... A U.S. researcher suggests that the architects of Stonehenge were inspired by magical "auditory illusions" the stones could produce, according to a Live Science report...

No magic was involved. It's only an interference pattern where the sounds of two sources seem louder in certain locations and softer in others.

Thats the article's point.

skyblue1 wrote:
Steven Waller, a researcher who specializes in the sound properties of ancient sites, is challenging common Stonehenge theories that the site was intended for spiritual worship and ceremonial burials.

Nothing new. That idea's been kicking around for generations.

Thanks for parroting the very point the sentence is making.
The word 'traditional' MEANS 'been around for generations'
The article is about a guy questing the TRADITIONAL explanations for stonehenge with his new theory about accoustics.


skyblue1 wrote:
He suggests that the stones were arranged to create a special sound phenomena that baffled participants of ritual piper dancing, and they may have thought the effect was supernatural.

Yep. Stone-age flim-flam at its finest!

skyblue1 wrote:
These gatherings usually consisted of two pipers playing music with dancers encircling them. Waller attributes this sound illusion to something called an "interference pattern." This occurs when two sound waves clash and results in people hearing a louder or softer noise depending on their location from the source.

So you did read the article! See? No magic at all!

skyblue1 wrote:
Waller offered his speculations at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Thursday. His theory suggests that during ritual dances people would have experienced this noise cancellation and most likely attributed it to something otherworldly.

It's easy to convince ignorant people of the "Supernatural". It's us edgy-mechated people what ain't so easily fooled.

skyblue1 wrote:
"I think they were experiencing this illusion, thinking it was magic pillars, and then constructed the actual structure," said Waller. The scientific community is not expected to accept the largely speculative theory with open arms. "There is no question its main axis is aligned along the mid-summer sunrise and mid-winter sunset and there is widespread agreement that it was used for cremation burials," said Mike Pitts, a leading expert on Stonehenge, to the Telegraph. But Maller does not expect to settle this seemingly primordial mystery. Instead he simply wishes to emphasize the acoustics of archaeology in rock art like Stonehenge. "Nobody has been paying attention to sound," Waller said to LiveScience "We've been destroying sound. In some of the French caves, they've widened the tunnels to build little train tracks to take the tourists back - thereby ruining the acoustics that could have been the whole motivation in the first place."

I think this accoustic effect may have played a part in certain rituals, but that the astronomical alignments are more important.


Now that Fnord has informed us all that water is wet and has brillaintly and deftly missed every point the OP made and then proceded to beat the crap out of the OP for things the OP didnt say lets return to the subject of what the OP actually said.
And if necessary - beat on him for crimes he IS commiting instead of crimes he didnt commit.

The OP is saying that some guy has a theory that Stonehenge was deliberately designed for its mind bending accoustic properties.

So where is the evidence for this?

Even if the site has some kind of wierd accousitcs how does this theorist know that it was deliberately built for that, and not (like an echo at a natural canyon) just an accident of the archtecture?

Did the author of the article conduct tests of his own? Did he place a band, or some other sound producing agent in the midst of the stone ring and then use his ears, ocilliscopes, and/or recording mics, to document these intereference patterns? Youd think he would do that first - determine if the effect even exists- before he goes into the how and the why.
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Tollorin
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Stonehenge mystery Reply with quote

naturalplastic wrote:

Did the author of the article conduct tests of his own? Did he place a band, or some other sound producing agent in the midst of the stone ring and then use his ears, ocilliscopes, and/or recording mics, to document these intereference patterns? Youd think he would do that first - determine if the effect even exists- before he goes into the how and the why.

Stonehenge is greatly damaged getting it's many thousand years old, luckilly the structure is regular and thus it's easy to exrapolate what it originally lookeed like. So, the best bet is mathematics and stimulations.
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