Ascolta

VOICING SPACES is a pioneering research endeavour funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the Italian Science Fund (FIS - Advanced Grant).

Led by Principal Investigator prof. Angela Bellia, the project introduces a paradigm shift in the field of archaeology and cultural heritage studies: the concept of Aural Architecture. Traditionally, the investigation of ancient spaces has been dominated by an ‘ocularcentric’ approach, prioritising the visual and material dimensions of ruins. However, ancient theatres, sanctuaries, and assembly spaces were not silent edifices; they were environments meticulously designed to resonate, where acoustics played a pivotal role in shaping ritual, social, and political experiences.

The Scientific Challenge VOICING aims to recover this hitherto invisible and ephemeral dimension. Through a transdisciplinary methodology that bridges archaeology, architecture, acoustic physics, and digital technologies, the project seeks to reconstruct the ‘Soundscape’ and acoustic properties of a selection of ancient rectilinear and circular theatres in the Mediterranean. The ultimate objective is to restore a voice to the spaces of the past, investigating how sound and the human voice interacted with architecture to model sensory experiences, performances, and communication in ancient societies.

• Grant Code: FIS-02749
• Funding Body: Italian Science Fund (FIS) / Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
• Total Budget: € 2.272.271,90