Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: jackcds2b on 23/02/2006 01:48:12

Title: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: jackcds2b on 23/02/2006 01:48:12

French archaeologists have taken pottery from ancient Pompeii and played the grooves back like a record to get the sounds of the pottery workshop, including laughter.

via http://www.bilgesehir.com/c_filmo_principale/e_vases_sonores/Bilge%20Sehir%20-%20Vases%20sonores.htm

Click "Pour visionner le video" to play the short video which contains a sample of the audio.

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 27/02/2006 12:43:30

I've heard of this being done somewhere else. I can't for the life of me remember where, though.

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: realmswalker on 04/03/2006 04:50:17

this is absolutely amazing!
how does it wpork? kinda like a record maybe?
the website doesnt help much, i dotn know french you see!

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 04/03/2006 15:33:46

Realmswalker - from what I can remember, that is exactly how it works. Any noise in the room would leave a trace in the material. The material can later be analysed and that noise extracted. Bear in mind, though, that it would have to be passed through a lot of audio filters & signal amplifiers to get anything audible.

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: neilep on 04/03/2006 16:58:59

Cripes !! what about when ever I bake a cake ?..can I stick that on my record player ?...cookies can be inserted in my cd player eh ?

..I do find this very very hard to believe...in fact...I don't believe it !...I am sure it's very very very easy to prove me wrong though by simply creating a pot today ,purposely making some unique noises during the process and then performing the same experiment.

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 04/03/2006 22:33:29

Neil - it wouldn't work for a cake as the material is too malleable. With clay, the sounds cause minute fluctuations on the surface which stay there when the pot is fired.
I believe some form of Fourier audio analysis could extract the actual sounds from the clay.

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 04/03/2006 22:50:34

OK, the whole thing was an April fools joke for Belgian TV. Apparently the technique was used in an episode of CSI, which is quite possibly where I'd heard of it before.

http://digg.com/science/Archaeologists_get_ancient_audio_from_grooves_on_Pompeii_pottery

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: neilep on 04/03/2006 23:02:42

*licks finger tip and sticks it in air* oh yeah oh yeah uh hu uh hu !!

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: daveshorts on 04/03/2006 23:13:33

I have no idea if it is possible (I would doubt it) but the idea would be very like a record, the clay is rotating and the potter pokes something into it, vibrations in this leave wiggles in the line it is following around the pot, just like a record. So no cake wouldn't work neil ;)

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: neilep on 04/03/2006 23:59:12

dave, did you miss Eths post where he says it was an April Fools joke ?[:)]

I have no doubt whatsoever that it is impossible to record events such as is described...there is just not enough calibration, tolerance and sensitivity.....good for a laugh though !

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 05/03/2006 20:03:01

<points at Neil> smug git! [xx(]

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: daveshorts on 05/03/2006 20:23:15

Naah I read it, I was just explaining how it could conceivably happen.

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: ukmicky on 05/03/2006 23:58:40

i'm so happy i didnt reply when i first saw this one.

Michael

Title: Re: Archaeologists get ancient audio from grooves
Post by: Hadrian on 06/03/2006 00:23:43

it sound  a little crack pot to me