‘The Acoustic Properties of Horse Skulls’ – Conors Project Wins an Association of Noise Consultants Prize

Senior Acoustics Consultant, Conor O’Brien has recently been awarded ‘best project report by a student studying for the Institute of Acoustics’ (IOA) diploma’ for his first of its kind investigation into the acoustic properties of horse skulls. The award is given annually by the Association of Noise Consultants (ANC), lecturers and tutors from the IOA diploma course, who nominate a shortlist of the best projects and the ANC chose one to win the award for best project.

Conors’ research project ‘an investigation into the acoustic properties of horse skulls’ looked at the placement of horse skulls which had been found under the floorboards of buildings dating roughly to the 1800s. It had previously been noted that horse skulls had been placed under floorboards to improve the acoustics of a room and give it an echo when people were dancing.

Unable to source any research on this topic from an acoustic perspective, as the only research to date looked at it from an archaeological or social point of view, Conor conducted tests using a real horse skull in acoustic laboratories. By using acoustic measurement equipment, he found that from one skull there was a possibility of an acoustic effect, but he would require more skulls to further his research. Thrimby Hall in Westmorland and a house in Bungay, Suffolk – both constructed in the 17th century – had around 40 horse skulls discovered inside them during renovation works in the 1920s and ’30s. The report on his findings showed that Connor had a ‘solid grasp of the acoustic issues involved and a deep appreciation of the scientific method’ which led him to being awarded this prestigious prize by the ANC.