Reconstructing the soundscape of the ancient Hippodrome of Olympia for an immersive sonic experience of heritage sites based on sound source description in texts

A comprehensive soundscape of the ancient Hippodrome of Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the earliest known Greek hippodromes, has been successfully reconstructed using sound source descriptions from historical texts. This study demonstrates that combining contextual, internal, and comparative certainty criteria for archaeoacoustics enables the identification of diverse sound sources associated with various activities in the hippodrome. The reconstructed soundscape, auralized through advanced software techniques, offers an immersive experience that enhances understanding of sonic intangible cultural heritage. By localizing sound sources and analyzing acoustical properties, this approach also provides insights into ancient users' perceptions and responses to the sonic environment.

AL-BAYYAR, Z., KITAPCI, K., CELEBI, G., & DOKMECI YORUKOGLU, P. N. (2024). Reconstructing the soundscape of the ancient Hippodrome of Olympia for an immersive sonic experience of heritage sites based on sound source description in texts. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings, 270(4), 7487–7494. https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2024_3966