AI Revolutionizes Archaeology With Ancient Soundscapes

The article describes a pioneering field called acoustic archaeology (or archaeoacoustics) that combines traditional archaeological methods with acoustic modeling and AI to recreate how sound traveled through ancient structures. Led by Dr. Miriam Kolar at Stanford University, researchers can now reconstruct the acoustic properties of archaeological sites using only partial remains through 3D spatial mapping, acoustic physics, and machine learning. This technology has revealed that many ancient structures, like Peru's Chavín de Huántar temple complex, were deliberately designed to create specific acoustic effects for religious and cultural purposes. The research has expanded beyond historical curiosity into applications for architectural preservation, urban planning, and cognitive neuroscience, where studies have shown that specific ancient ceremonial spaces share acoustic properties that enhance theta wave activity in the human brain, potentially facilitating altered states of consciousness. This technology is now being used to create immersive virtual experiences of historical sites and to document endangered cultural heritage locations.

https://www.ihadnoclue.com/article/1122766709353578497