Angela Bellia, Listening Sacred Spaces: Towards an Aural Architecture of the Past, “Past Sounds: New Perspectives in the Field of Archaeoacoustics”, 20-21 October 2022, University of Barcelona, Conference organised by Margarita Díaz-Andreu & Neemias Santos da Rosa. By Angela Bellia

https://www.academia.edu/88460359/Angela_Bellia_Listening_Sacred_Spaces_Towards_an_Aural_Architecture_of_the_Past_Past_Sounds_New_Perspectives_in_the_Field_of_Archaeoacoustics_20_21_October_2022_University_of_Barcelona_Conference_organised_by_Margarita_D%C3%ADaz_Andreu_and_Neemias_Santos_da_Rosa?rhid=40969557146&swp=rr-rw-wc-169043053&nav_from=fac91e67-3499-4763-a8d8-23bb3f057225 This paper aims to analyse recent studies which have raised new hypotheses concerning aural architecture as a new trend in humanities research, with a particular focus on the intersection of sacred space, rituals, and sound in the past. These studies have highlighted how sacred buildings not only defined a sacred place as a physical and symbolic expression of a specific form of worship, but also established the setting for performative and multisensorial ceremonies in which music, dance, and other sonic events played an important role. In this contribution, we investigate studies on aural architecture in order to discover if the location of sacred spaces tells us whether ancient people reacted to ritual and musical developments by modifying sanctuaries or by designing and constructing new buildings and spaces for performances. In addition, we explore studies on aural architecture to obtain an overview of how specific sonic features could have influenced the soundscape of sacred spaces, which consisted not only of songs, music, prayers, recitations and religious sonic and vocal utterances, but also of natural elements, such as animals, water and wind. In this overview, we will also take into consideration how digital technologies and virtual acoustics can contribute to the understanding of the architecture-sound nexus.