Stone Tape Theory
This theory is based on the possibility that buildings, the rocks or the earth are able to absorb energy from living beings who inhabit them. Later, under certain conditions, that energy or signal can be replayed, rather like a video tape. Most typical hauntings have a very emotion laden scene such as a murder, or could have a very important scene from the point of view of the participants. It is this scene that has somehow become imprinted or recorded in the environment (this may not necessarily be a house, it could be outside).
This could potentially be caused as the energy liberated at the point of a
sequence of dramatic events is transmitted or expelled onto the surrounding material and stored. Once recorded, the scene becomes much like a ‘psychic video’. This recording is then triggered by a person who has the correct attributes, and the scene can also be seen by those around them. The replay can take a form as a full manifestation or even sounds such as voices or footsteps and may even be repeated.
The scene that is replayed has nothing to do with the people who were originally there, as they are no longer alive or associated with the location, it is simply a record of what took place.
The reason the theory is called ‘stone tape’ is because it is thought that it is the materials in stone or brick (such as quartz, etc) may have the correct properties for recording such events.
Where does the term ‘stone tape theory’ come from? It seems to be a generally accepted idea that the theory derives from the storyline of the 1972 BBC dramatisation of Kneale’s play ‘The Stone Tape’. The story follows scientists who theorise that a room’s fabric ‘stores’ the visual and auditory impression of a ghost that replays inside the heads of certain sensitive individuals. It would, however, be unfair to the proponents of the theory to suggest that it was a theory accepted wholesale as the result of a work of fiction. Early proponents also seem to have been inspired by Robin’s ‘Secret Language of Stone’, a non-fiction book which links psychic phenomena with the properties of stones such as quartz.
So why do paranormalists use the stone tape theory? Stone tape apparitions often appear in crude categorisations of the ‘types’ of ghost one may encounter along with poltergeist, crisis apparitions and apparitions of the living etc. Amongst some investigators the concept of ‘stone tape’ is often seen as interchangeable with related concepts such as ‘residual hauntings’ and ‘imprints’ (a form of North American version of stone tape). Most investigators, however, apply the concept ‘correctly’ – in a logical sense – as an explanation for the phenomena of ‘residual haunting’ itself rather than a description of it. This brings us to the probable reason for the popularity of the term; it is a shorthand explanation for established phenomena. These phenomena of ‘residual hauntings’ are certainly as established as they could be.
A large proportion of traditional centuries-old hauntings can fall under the banner of residual: the lady in grey who is ‘still sometimes seen walking the path’, the headless horseman that appears at midnight or the apparition that appears on the anniversary of its death. The concept of ‘stone tape theory’ is a neat way of explaining these phenomena.
The primary problem of many researchers seems to be whether stone tape theory is a valid explanation, or whether it is a scientific theory? The problem often rests with the ‘method of recording’. Despite loose theoretical links between physic phenomena and stones there remains no evidence for the theory. It fails to be a scientific theory as the process is not properly explained and the theory is not testable. Under the scientific method the stone tape theory offers no explanation, merely a description.
The question remains as to whether stone tape theory has a place in the dictionary of a paranormal investigator. One’s beliefs, assumptions and method of investigating dictate the answer. For many such individuals the theory is a valid one. Spiritualism can be a faith and assumption driven way of life; if one has a faith-based assumption that there is a connection between psychic events and stones and crystals then stone tape theory is a natural progression and requires no scientific justification. Other investigators, however, self-define as scientific researchers. For such investigators stone tape theory has no sound theoretical or evidential basis and should be discarded from their dictionary of paranormal terminology.
The theory certainly explains many of the sightings and incidents that occur, however no one knows for sure exactly what the recorded energy really is. The possibility that it could be our natural electric and magnetic fields seems remote but could it be another undiscovered energy?