Noise #116

Secrets of the Finnish "Devil's Church"

There’s a cave in Finland long believed to house spirits. According to folklore, sages would lead their sick followers inside to commune with the devil, then perform healing rituals of intense noise and movement.

Deep within the Devil’s Church, priests and patients alike would “feel the presence” of ghosts around them.

Now, new research suggests that the cave’s remarkable qualities may be sonic rather than supernatural. Parallel walls of smooth stone vibrate at fixed frequencies when triggered by a shaman’s voice or a drum’s impact, the study describes. And the amplified, unearthly tones of the cave’s natural resonance could lead visitors to believe they’re dancing with spirits—when they’re enveloped by sound waves instead.