Hearing the Past: The Multidisciplinary Challenge and the VOICING Project Team

Ancient architecture was not an inert container, but rather a living element capable of shaping the sonic experience of the communities that inhabited it. Building upon this awareness, the VOICING project (Voicing Spaces: Towards an Aural Architecture in the Past), funded by the Italian Science Fund (FIS), integrates archaeological investigations and STEAM disciplines to reconstruct the soundscape of the ancient world.

An Outstanding Team and the Heritage Acoustics Laboratory The strength of the project lies in its profoundly interdisciplinary nature, which is based in the new Heritage Acoustics Laboratory at the University of Palermo. Under the scientific direction of Principal Investigator Angela Bellia, the research is brought to fruition by an extraordinary international team. The humanistic and scientific research group comprises Zorana Đorđević, Antonella Bevilacqua, Erica Angliker, Marianna Castiglione, Mario Resta, and Laura Schepis. They are supported by key figures in technological infrastructure, documentation, and communication: Nicholas Sciortino, Elisa Sanzeri, Michelangelo Ferrara, Andrea Maria Rapisarda Mattarella, and Alessandra Tranchina, with further support from Scientific Advisor Lamberto Tronchin. This represents a true synergy wherein archaeologists, music historians, engineers, and digital experts work in unison.

From Digital Surveys to 3D Reconstructions The investigations focus on ancient theatres and large sacred spaces. The team studies the acoustic conditions of these archaeological sites through three-dimensional surveys, in situ archaeoacoustic measurements, GIS systems, and digital modelling. Owing to the 3D reconstruction of the architecture, the project extends to the simulation of sound propagation and auralisation—an advanced technology that enables the acoustic behaviour of ancient environments to be heard once again, including through immersive virtual reality.

The Revival of Ancient Instruments: Acoustic Tests and Performers A crucial element of our research is the recovery of sonic materiality and of musical instruments that would otherwise be lost. To interrogate the design intentionality of ancient civilisations and ensure the utmost rigour in the auralisations, the project relies on the indispensable contribution of a group of talented artists and specialised performers. Extraordinary professionals such as Rosa Fragorapti, Callum Armstrong, Cristina Majnero, Daniele Ercoli, Roberto Stanco, and the voices of Iony Moschovakou and actor Aurelio D’Amore are collaborating on essential acoustic tests, conducted both in an anechoic chamber and directly within the archaeological sites.

Through revived instruments, such as the ancient double-reed aulos and the lyra, the musical team gives voice back to the past, enabling researchers to empirically test the acoustic simulations and to restore for the public the sounds that accompanied the rituals, dances, and festivities of ancient societies.

The intersection of academic research, digital innovation, and artistic experimentation not only allows us to explore the sonic memory of past civilisations, but also serves as a vital tool for the predictive monitoring of cultural heritage against environmental degradation.

To relive the moments of the official presentation and gain a closer insight into the energy and work of our interdisciplinary team, we invite you to watch the video dedicated to the project

Further press coverage and event reports: