DOI: 10.23729/9ea0124b-0362-44ee-9121-dd6a7e34b141
title: Impulse responses from Finnish rock art sites

description: This dataset contains a selection of impulse responses (102) collected from prehistoric rock art sites in Finland, reference sites located near them, and prehistoric settlement sites. The dataset serves as supplementary material for the article ‘Reflected Encounters at Hunter-Gatherer Rock Art Sites by the Water’, authored by R. Rainio, J. Shpinitskaya, P. Rinkkala, J. Pekkanen, P. Kesäniemi, and M. Ojanen. Data collection objectives and methods are discussed in detail in the article. The work was part of the Academy of Finland funded project ‘Acoustics and auditory culture at hunter-gatherer rock art sites in Northern Europe, Siberia and North America’ (2018–2023) at the University of Helsinki. 

See: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/acoustics-of-sacred-sites

Each wav file contains one impulse response recorded with a Neumann KM183 omnidirectional condenser pressure microphone and a Zoom F8 or H6 portable audio recorder (96-kHz sampling rate and 24-bit depth). Either the ‘pop’ sound of a 40 cm diameter latex balloon or a 10-second logarithmic sine sweep serves as the excitation signal. The file name indicates the following information: 

- name of the site

- type of the site (rock art site / reference site / settlement site)

- distance of the recording location from the painted or reference rock (m)

- time of recording (winter [-12 to +2° C] / summer [+12 to +25° C])

- excitation signal (pop / sweep)


Rock art sites are classified as unchanged or changed in terms of topography and acoustics. The table below lists the studied 37 rock art sites and 6 settlement sites with their key characteristics (height = height of the paintings above the water; category = categorization of the sites into unchanged or changed; distance = distance of a settlement site from the nearest rock art site).

ROCK ART SITE; MUNICIPALITY; FORMATION; HEIGHT (M ) ; CATEGORY; FIELDWORK

Astuvansalmi; Ristiina/Mikkeli; Cliff, shelter; 6.8–11.8; Changed; Summer

Haukkalahdenvuori II; Enonkoski; Cliff; 6.9–7.6; Changed; Summer

Haukkasaari I; Lemi; Cliff; 1.8; Unchanged; Winter

Haukkasaari II; Lemi; Cliff; 1.8; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Ilmuksenvuori; Lemi; Cliff; 1.8–2.8; Unchanged; Summer

Itkonlahti; Mäntyharju; Cliff, pothole; 0.8–1.9; Unchanged; Summer

Julma-Ölkky; Kuusamo; Cliff; 1.3; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Juusjärvi; Kirkkonummi; Cliff; 6.6–8.4; Changed; Winter

Jäniskallio; Espoo; Cliff; 1.8; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Kalamaniemi I; Luumäki; Cliff, recess; 1.6–2.8; Unchanged; Summer

Keltavuori; Lappeenranta; Cliff; 1.5–2.5; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Kivikirkko; Sulkava; Boulder, cave; 11.6–12.3; Changed; Summer

Kolmiköytisienvuori; Ruokolahti; Cliff; 3.5–4.5; Changed; Summer

Lammasjärvi/Fårsjö; Pohja/Raasepori; Cliff; 1.1–2.6; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Luutsalo; Heinävesi; Boulder; 1.6–2.0; Unchanged; Summer

Löppösenluola; Valkeala/Kouvola; Cliff, shelter; 2.3–4.0; Unchanged; Summer

Mertakallio; Iitti; Cliff, recess; 2.6–4.5; Unchanged; Summer

Myllylampi/Myllyoja; Luumäki; Cliff; 4.0; Changed; Summer

Olhavanvuori/Olhavanlampi; Valkeala/Kouvola; Cliff, crevice; 1.5; Unchanged; Summer

Patakallio; Jaala/Kouvola; Cliff, recess, pothole; 1.5; Unchanged; Winter

Rautvuori; Heinola; Cliff; 8.2–9.2; Changed; Summer

Ristniemenvuori I; Miehikkälä; Cliff; 1.6; Unchanged; Winter

Ristniemenvuori II; Miehikkälä; Cliff; 1.6; Unchanged; Winter

Ruominkapia; Lemi; Cliff; 1.0–3.8; Unchanged; Summer

Salmenvuori; Lappeenranta; Cliff; 1.0–3.5; Unchanged; Summer

Salmijärvi/Lautmäki; Vihti; Cliff, shelter; 1.5–2.0; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Siliävuori; Luumäki; Cliff, recess; 1.8–3.0; Unchanged; Winter, summer

Tupavuori; Jaala/Kouvola; Cliff; 3.0; Changed; Summer

Ukonvuori; Enonkoski; Cliff, shelter; 10.0; Changed; Summer

Vaskivuori A; Luumäki; Cliff; 1.0; Unchanged; Winter, Summer

Vaskivuori C; Luumäki; Cliff; 1.0–1.8; Unchanged; Winter

Verijärvi; Mikkeli; Cliff; 1.4–2.2; Unchanged; Summer

Verla; Valkeala/Kouvola; Cliff; 0.5–1.5; Unchanged; Winter

Viherinkoski A; Joutsa; Boulder; 2.7 trees grown around; Changed; Summer

Viherinkoski B; Joutsa; Cliff; 2.2–3.0; Unchanged; Summer

Väinönkallio/Leveälahti; Asikkala; Cliff; 4.0–5.5; Changed; Summer

Värikallio; Suomussalmi; Cliff; 0.2–2.5; Unchanged; Winter, summer


SETTLEMENT SITE; MUNICIPALITY; TERRAIN; DISTANCE (M); CATEGORY; FIELDWORK

Huopaisenvirta II; Luumäki; Beach; 3 050; Changed: road; Summer

Jängynjärvi-Vuossaarentie; Lappeenranta; Marshy beach; 1 500; Unchanged; Summer

Keidas; Iitti; Beach; 8 700; Unchanged; Summer

Kesälampi; Lappeenranta; Marshy beach; 1 150; Unchanged; Summer

Muikkupuro; Suomussalmi; Beach; 5 500; Unchanged; Summer

Rantanen Suurpelto; Luumäki; Beach; 900; Changed: fields; Winter