Draft Archaeoacoustic Assessment Proforma (1)

This is a draft document that emerged from discussions at research symposia held as part of this network. It is intended to publish a final copy as a proforma document available publicly. At present it needs improving and developing. Please add a comment to this website suggesting changes; or copy it, paste it into Word and edit it using track changes; or email a list of suggestions to Rupert Till at r.till@hud.ac.uk. All contributors will be credited as co-authors of the final document.

Archaeoacoustic / Sonic Archaeology Basic Assessment Sheet for one person

Site Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Site Address and detailed Location: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

(minimum address and postcode, ideally map ref/GPS id)

Site Description: (describe any artwork present, materials of construction, significant or geometric features)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. What can you hear? _________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Are there any obvious acoustic features you can identify?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Clapping your hands or making another short loud sound, investigate any positions where something interesting is heard. Record the position of the observation on a map or diagram. Describe below what is heard in as much detail as possible. (attatch map separately)

Position Description

A ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

B ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

C ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Are there any echoes in the space? How many? Where are they strongest? Where do they seem to come from? ___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How does speech behave in the space? How clear is speech? Does it sound unusual?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Does sound seem louder than usual in the space? How much? Twice as loud? More?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Does sound seem more defined than usual in the space? YES/ NO

8. Are there any natural sounds in the space such as wind or water? Describe them.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Describe the weather.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What is the time? ______________________________________

11. What is the date? ______________________________________

12. What is the air temperature in degrees centigrade? ______________________________________

13. What is the barometric air pressure? ______________________________________

14. What is the windspeed? ______________________________________

(questions 12 – 14 can be found out from weather stations or online sources if required after rest of form is completed)

15. Files attached: (map of positions, photographs, video files, sound recordings made, video files etc.)

________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. Title: ______ First Name: ____________________ Surname: ___________________________________

17. Provide either Email Address: _____________________________________________________________

18. OR Postal Address: ______ __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. (cont.) Clapping your hands or making another short loud sound, investigate any positions where something interesting is heard. Record the position of the observation on a map or diagram. Describe below what is heard in as much detail as possible. (attatch map separately)

Position Description

E ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

F ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

G ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

H ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

I ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

J ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

K ________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acoustics and Music of British Prehistory Research Network