My visit to the ancient Hypogeum in Malta

[Billy]

Continuing from previous page, Ggantija Gozo.

The museum exhibition displayed many of the artifacts found while the site was being excavated.
The fine details and craftsmanship of the very small statues was remarkable. And yet again we find the big mamma goddess.
Two goddesses together, one with a head missing.

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[Billy]

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A drawing of a model of how the site looked originally.

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And last but not least. My daughter and grandson admiring the flowers in the grounds around the site.

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[Billy]

After I visited Ggantija in the small town of Xaghra in Gozo. Not far away hidden under a house is Ninu's cave which was found in the 1800's when the resident was digging for a well.
There is are beautiful stalactites and stalagmites to be seen.

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My grandson at the bird sanctuary.



If anyone would like a smile. Here is a little video clip of my grandson feeding the birds.
He was mesmerized.


http://projectavalon.net/Billy's_gra...udgerigars.mp4

[Billy]

After some positive progress this past few months we now have 9 members who have pre- booked the Hypogeum and accommodation for an Avalon gathering in Malta this coming September. I am excited and very much looking forward to this gathering in the Hypogeum and other sites

A friend of mine here in Scotland and another Avalon member sent me some links with some research on the acustics properties of the Hypogeum that has been carried out in the past.

Healing with sound in ancient temples.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/unex...s-111hz-006749


Archaeoacoustic Analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta
Worth a read. Linked here: http://jaanet.info/journals/jaa/Vol_...une_2015/4.pdf



MOD EDIT: adding a slightly more robust link to the paper here as the existing one 'blocked' (Tintin Q @13/:19 GMT Sept 13th)

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Billy (here)
If anyone would like a smile. Here is a little video clip of my grandson feeding the birds.
He was mesmerized.


http://projectavalon.net/Billy's_gra...udgerigars.mp4

I'm late catching this post.
Precious, Billy! Handsome, healthy, happy grandson. I remember when you announced his arrival. He’s gotten so big. I’ll send the link off to Foxie Loxie. No doubt, it’ll zap joy and healing into her heart.

Thanks for sharing.

♡

[Billy]

Posted by Billy (here)
My visit to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and other ancient sites around Malta and Gozo

He everyone, I returned from visited Malta last week after a three weeks stay in Malta and the small Island of Gozo. It has been a mission of mine to return to Malta since I was last there 26 yrs ago to revisit the ancient standing stones sites and mainly the Hypogeum which I was not aware of 26 yrs ago.

My whole trip was planned around when I could have access to the 5000 year old Hypogeum, I had to book my visit a year in advance as their calendar was fully booked months in advance. I pre booked two visits to the Hypogeum. Which now I was very glad I did as I ended up having a memorial experience on my second visit which I will share with you all.

The Hypogeum is a man made underground structure on three levels. Hypogeum is a Greek word for underground. But more accurate is Hypo = under and Geum = Gaia (mother or goddess) and is usually associated with a chamber. A chamber under mother earth is exactly what it is.

The Hypogeum has been built with amazing acustics qualities within the plan. A lost knowledge from the ancient builders as far as I am concerned. As some of you already know I have travelled around the world seeking out ancient structures and temples with acustic properties. India being my last trip which I shared with you all on my Ajanta / Ellora thread. I have also visited sound structures in Greece, Turkey and of course Scotland. But the Hypogeum takes the cake as far as quality of resonance is concerned.
Literally, out of this world.

When I was still in Scotland months before my trip I wrote to Heritage Malta to ask for permission to allow me to test the acustics for a few seconds with my toning skills, which are not that great but I get by. They replied quickly with a definite NO not allowed. I appealed against their decision as I knew through all my previous research that they had allowed some privileged folks Access to test the sound. They replied saying that if I hired a whole group tour for myself then I could test the acustics. There are 10 visitors in each tour group at €38 each = €380. I could not afford this so I just let it go disappointed that I would not be allowed to tone inside the Hypogeum. But things took an unexpected turn for the better when I actually arrived there.

The security is very high at the Hypogeum. No cameras, phones or tablets are allowed inside, when you arrive for your tour you have to place everything inside a locker which they give you a key for. It is an audio tour. So you are given small audio device with no earphones. They select your language and you are led through the Hypogeum on a built metal walkway that you are not allowed to stray from.

As no cameras were allowed I have no personal photos to share but there are plenty on the net from earlier times when security was not so strict.

These are pictures from some postcards I bought.
Attachment 39139. Attachment 39140

Attachment 39141. Attachment 39142

This one is from the net.
Attachment 39143

There is one room they call the oracle room. Which has a small square cut out of the stone and this is the sound chamber that resonates throughout all three levels when you tone into it. You have to first find the note or key of the structure and when you do, you know it, as your whole chest and body vibrates with the sound. Quite an experience I assure you.

My picture limit has been reached on this OP post, so I will continue on the history of the Hypogeum with another post soon.

Hi everyone. It is now a year since I visited the Hypogeum in Malta, next weekend I return along with nine other kindred souls of which 8 are Avalon members.

After a hard struggle this past few months, yesterday I received official permission to take my traveling didgeridoo, singing bowls and my small hand held zoom recorder inside the Hypogeum with me, I am absolutely delighted that permission from Malta Heritage has been granted with the help of a great man Narcy the head tour guide whom I met last year.

My traveling didgeridoo that I bought in Gozo last year.


We will also be visiting other ancient temple sites around Malta and hopefully Gozo.

I am very excited about this trip and meeting up with fellow Avalonians.

[Tintin]

See Post #44 with link to Archaeoacoustic Analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta paper

[greybeard]

Vibration plays such an important part in life.
There is nothing but energy in movement--vibration--also emotion.
Chris

[Billy]

Posted by Tintin (here)


See Post #44 with link to Archaeoacoustic Analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta paper

An introduction to the archaeoacoustic analysis paper.

Journal of Anthropology and Archaeology
June 2015, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 59-79
ISSN 2334-2420 (Print) 2334-2439 (Online)
Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved.
Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development
DOI: 10.15640/jaa.v3n1a4
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/jaa.v3n1a4
Archaeoacoustic Analysis of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta
Prof.agg. Paolo Debertolis1
, Dr. Fernando Coimbra2 & Linda Eneix3

Abstract
Recently we studied the acoustic properties of the underground Ħal Saflieni
Hypogeum in Malta. Identified as “architecture in the negative”, it is a unique
prehistoric complex, intentionally sculpted with features that mirror megalithic
temples above ground. It is known that the Hypogeum was used in the Neolithic
not only as a depository for bones, but also as a shrine for ritual use. In a room
known as the “Oracle Room” set in the second level of the hypogeum, we have
been able to detect the presence of a strong resonance effect: a double resonance
frequency at 70Hz and 114Hz.

With a male voice tuned to these frequencies it is possible to stimulate the resonance phenomenon throughout the hypogeum. It was further detected that percussion instruments can stimulate the resonance by their harmonics.
Laboratory testing indicates that these frequencies have a strong effect on human brain activity. Since it is likely that the chambers served as centers for social or spiritual events, the resonance of the chamber cavities would have supported human ritual chanting and mystic consciousness.

Introduction
Archaeoacoustics is a recent interdisciplinary field of study, using different parameters to examine ancient sites for overlooked technology that operates on the human emotional sphere. Archaeology has most often focused on visual appearance and physical objects, although the past was not a period of silence.

1 Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Chair of Dental Archaeology, Project SB
Research Group on Archaeoacoustics (SBRG), Italy
2 Quaternary and Prehistoric Group, Centre for Geosciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
3 Mediterranean Institute of Ancient Civilizations, The OTS Foundation, United States and Malta.

Debertolis, Coimbra & Eneix 61

Archaeoacoustics, as mentioned before by several authors (Errico & Lawson,
2006; Scarre, 2006), has similar methodological problems with Archaeoastronomy
regarding the determination of deliberate actions by prehistoric human beings, or the
intentionality of their monument building acts (Coimbra, 2014). However, as C.
Scarre (2006: 9) referred, “the archaeoacoustics of prehistoric contexts is potentially a
vital part of the understanding of the lived experience of past societies”.

The Maltese Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
It’s generally accepted that the first time man arrived on the Mediterranean islands of Malta was in 5,200 BC. Through archaeological excavations and the use of carbon 14 dating, the construction there of a number of megalithic temple complexes is placed from around 3,600 BC (Pace, 2004). Many researchers have tried to analyze and study the Maltese temple building culture. The most widely known were: Zammit, Ugolini, Ceschi and the British archaeologists Trump and Evans.

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is an underground complex dug into the rock. It
was accidentally discovered in 1902 during construction work and had been
undisturbed until then, from the time of its abrupt disuse (around 2,500 BC) by the
culture that made it. The first description of eerie sound behavior and odd echoes in
the site came in 1920. Writing for the National Geographic Magazine, William Arthur
Griffiths pointed out that “Here it was noticed only a few months ago that any word
spoken into this place (the Oracle Room) was magnified a hundred-fold and audible
throughout the entire underground structure.

A curved projection is specially carved out of the back of the cave near this hole and acts as a sounding-board, showing that the designers had a good practical knowledge of sound-wave motion. The impression upon the credulous can be imagined when the oracle spoke and the words came
thundering forth through the dark and mysterious places with terrifying
impressiveness” (Griffiths, 1920: 465).

The complex consists of a system of chambers and passages that develops
into three distinct underground levels until reaching a maximum depth of about 11
meters and covering an area of about 500 km2

. From first glance this immense work seems to be the result of a well organized and advanced civilization. The Hypogeum is known to date back to at least 4.000 B.C., if not slightly earlier. According to Pace
(2004) Zebbug Phase pottery from this period has been discovered on site.


A plan of the layout of the Hypogeum.



Read more via link above posted by Tintin.