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The primary objective of the Heritage Acoustics Laboratory is to ensure the scientific study, digital reconstruction, and valorisation of the ancient sound heritage. The Laboratory serves as a hub for the emerging field of Sonic Heritage, focusing on the recovery of the acoustic identity of historical and archaeological sites as a fundamental form of intangible cultural heritage.

The Laboratory’s activities are driven by the international research project VOICING (Voicing Spaces: Towards an Aural Architecture in the Past), funded by the Italian Science Fund (FIS) and the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). Through a multidisciplinary approach, the HA-Lab integrates expertise in archaeoacoustics, architectural acoustics, psychoacoustics, and ecoacoustics. By utilizing state-of-the-art technologies—including Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) and binaural recording-the Laboratory investigates the complex relationship between sound, space, and performance in antiquity.

The HA-Lab provides essential support for the Department’s research and teaching activities, particularly for PhD students and post-doctoral researchers specialising in Sonic Archaeology, Acoustic Engineering, and Digital Heritage. The facility is equipped to develop high-fidelity auralisations and immersive environments (VR, AR, MR), allowing scholars and the public to experience the reconstructed soundscapes of the past.

A significant focus of the Laboratory is the ongoing creation of a digital archive of ancient soundscapes (soundscape archaeology), incorporating data on geophony and biophony. This repository is being developed to ensure the preservation of acoustic data and will eventually be accessible for regulated consultation by international scholars and students, fostering a global dialogue on the aural architecture of the past