Sound-reflecting shelters inspired ancient rock artists

Acoustic data suggest early European painters preferred echo chambers

Baume Brune

ECHO ART  Ancient farmers in southeastern France created rock art in shelters where sounds echoed into the surrounding landscape, researchers say. Among this set of cliff cavities at a site called Baume Brune, only the middle one (with the smallest opening) contains ancient rock art. It also has special acoustic properties that produce loud echoes.

M. Díaz-Andreu

Ancient rock artists were drawn to echo chambers.