ABSTRACT
Sound is an almost universal component of ritual. Across the world, sound and rhythm are frequently combined to structure ceremonies through the orchestration of movement and dance. They can also be an important means of creating connections with the supernatural. This is of particular interest given recent research which suggests that the interiors of many prehistoric monuments in the British Isles may have been conducive to the creation of powerful acoustic experiences. Archaeologists have previously considered whether these megalithic structures, constructed between 4000 and 2000 BC, may have been places where people gained access, or journeyed, to other worlds. This is interesting given that the use of sound to induce altered states of consciousness is often considered integral to shamanistic performance. This is not only the case in those Siberian societies that practise(d) shamanism, but also in other communities across the world where comparable practices have been observed. Given that one of the central roles of shamanism is to manage interactions between the living and the supernatural, could an understanding of such techniques assist in the interpretation of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age structures in the British Isles?
