The Past Has Ears: Archaeoacoustics and Acoustic Heritage

Dear Colleagues,

This joint Heritage/Acoustics Special Issue focuses on the developing field of archaeoacoustics, highlighting the critical role of sound in understanding historical contexts. Archaeoacoustics provides unique insights into the interactions between ancient soundscapes, human experiences, cultural and musical practices, and architectural designs. The aim is to present research and critical insights from a diverse range of disciplines, including acoustics, anthropology, archaeology, architecture, heritage studies, and musicology. We invite contributions that emphasise the significance of sound in history.

The scope of this Special Issue includes the following:

1. Archaeoacoustic Analysis of Historical Sites: Research employing modern acoustic technology to study the soundscapes of ancient theatres, caves, temples, and other historical sites. These studies will explore how acoustics shaped architectural choices, or vice versa, and the relation to human interactions within these spaces.
2. Reconstruction of Historical Soundscapes: Research focusing on the recreation and evaluation of past sound environments through experimental archaeology and digital simulations. This includes the use of computer modelling and auralisation techniques to revive and understand the acoustic properties of ancient sites and artefacts.
3. Acoustic Heritage Preservation and Communication: Efforts focussing on the documentation and preservation of acoustic heritage, including strategies for protecting the unique sound properties of historical locations. This includes challenges in conserving intangible cultural heritage and museography and communication projects of acoustic heritage.
4. Interdisciplinary Contributions to Acoustic Heritage: Studies that integrate perspectives from anthropology, architecture, musicology, and digital technology are encouraged. Research on the cultural meanings and symbolic roles of sound in ancient societies, including the roles of music, spoken word, and environmental sounds in rituals, communication, and daily life, is invaluable to archaeoacoustics and intangible heritage. Approaching these fields of study from an acoustic perspective can enhance our understanding and offer new methods for studying and preserving acoustic heritage.

“The Past Has Ears: Archaeoacoustics and Acoustic Heritage” aims at fostering a deeper appreciation of the auditory past, promoting a comprehensive narrative of human history enriched by the study of sound. This Special Issue seeks to advance archaeoacoustic research and encourage interdisciplinary efforts to preserve and understand our acoustic heritage.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Heritage.

Dr. Brian FG Katz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Acoustics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.