Session: #76

Content:

Although past soundscapes have increasingly captivated the attention of researchers in recent decades, their exploration still significantly lags behind the study of the indoor acoustics of ancient monuments and sites. Therefore, this session aims to serve as a platform to stimulate discussion regarding the role of sound and music in past landscapes. It encompasses a diverse range of themes including music archaeology and archaeoacoustics, the social significance of sound, and heritage preservation.
As objectives the session proposes, first, to induce conversation concerning the acoustic characteristics of archaeological sites and past soundscapes, and of the musical instruments and other sound devices such as animal call tools played in the open air. In this context, we warmly welcome papers focusing on emerging technologies that facilitate the analysis of sound behaviour in outdoor environments. To foster a dialogue on the social significance of sound beyond enclosed spaces is the session's second objective. A related topic to discuss is how communities may have employed specific acoustic features of particular areas to evoke a sense of identity. Also, the artistic representation of sound and musical instruments within past landscapes may be considered as a debate topic. Thirdly, this session endeavours to facilitate the exchange of ideas regarding the preservation of endangered past soundscapes. Finally, this session seeks to provide some insights on the difficulties encountered by the interdisciplinary nature of the field of archaeoacoustics in which, in addition to archaeologists, scholars also include acoustic engineers, musicologists, soundscape specialists, anthropologists, art historians and heritage experts.
This session is organized by the Artsoundscapes, Cult-Aural and Acoustics and proxemics of 'contiones' projects and it is open to everyone.

Session: #76

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