DOI: https://doi.org/10.58874/SAAT.2022.171
Abstract:Ceramic vessels are found embedded in the walls of sacred edifices, built from the medieval to modern period across Europe and the Mediterranean. To better understand the acoustical, building, and religious ideas underneath this practice, the research results need to be mutually comparable. Therefore, this paper suggests a compliant approach that would enable such comparisons. Almost two decades of fieldwork experience led us to define the archaeoacoustic research methodology of acoustic vessels that includes: (1) data collection, (2) data analysis, and (3) a “multi-channeled” dialogue among scientific disciplines. These three phases mainly, but not exclusively, consider the fields of history of religion, archaeology, history of art and architecture, acoustics, and musicology. We draw upon the previously defined methodological requirements, that ensure avoiding anachronism and misinterpretation, and then translate them into practice. We tested the methodology on several case studies from two distinct regions in Europe - Catholic churches in Brittany (France, 15-17th c.) and Orthodox churches in Serbia (9-15th c.). Our findings showed that the proposed methodology is particularly important for results comparisons regarding archaeology and acoustics, while the results originating in the field of musicology, religion, and history of art and architecture could be comparable within culturally similar regions.
Keywords:archaeoacoustics, acoustic vessels, church architecture
Pages:27-30
Paper: