Preliminary archaeoacoustic analysis at Tarxien Neolithic Temples, Malta

A few days before and in conjunction with the Archaeoacoustic Conference "The Archaeology of Sound" in Malta on 19th -22nd February 2014, a small group of SBRG members performed several archaeoacoustic measurements on some ancient temples in Malta.

In particular measurements were taken at the temples of Tarxien on the island of Malta, and the temple of Ggantija and Xaghra circle on the island of Gozo.



As we know and we have verified in previous research on ancient sites in Europe (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, South England, and also Alatri in Italy), this type of frequency, if at an appropriate volume and not too high, can have a positive effect on brain activity. This effect is particularly evident in people who practice meditation. During the measurements we also attempted to verify the presence of a resonance phenomenon within the comples’s two temples, those in the best condition for this purpose. Various musical instruments were used, from primitive shamanic drum to percussion bells, but without success. Unfortunately, the structure is too destroyed in its higher portions that are deemed to have been covered by a dome roof.


This Neolithic complex was initially built between 3,600 and 3,000 BC as a sacred place, but at the beginning of the Bronze Age (2400-1500 BC) the original temples were reused as storage of funeral urns. This indicates that the original population was replaced by newcomers with different social customs.



What remains of the colossal statue of a woman (Mother Goddess) in the South Temple. This is a copy, the original is in the museum of Archeology, Valetta


Lots of photos and findings so far.


http://www.sbresearchgroup.eu/index.php/en/notizie-in-inglese/227-preliminary-archaeoacoustic-analysis-at-tarxien-neolithic-temples-malta

Can't find the new results yet on the hypogeum which has more amazing acoustics but this is an article from Malta on the symposium.





Tuesday, January 21, 2014, 10:58

International team of scientists to study hypogeum acoustics

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140119/business-news/Experts-set-to-tune-in-to-sound-effects-of-archaeological-sites-in-Malta.503223