A new protocol for the reconstruction of the auditory ambiance in Palaeolithic sites: first results from Grotta Paglicci (Apulia – Southern Italy)

We present the first results of the archaeoacustic investigations at Grotta Paglicci (Apulia - Southern Italy), a Palaeolithic site remarkable for the finding of some portable art objects and for the presence of wall paintings. Significant differences in the acoustic properties among the three main internal rooms, which might have been relevant for Paleolithic hunter-gatherer’s use of the cave were recorded. Building on this interesting data, we propose a new protocol that combines the collection of the acoustic measures in situ and their application to an editable 3D cave model. This interdisciplinary approach will allow the analysis of reliable acoustic data sets on which the application of computational techniques could open new scenarios in the exploring of intangible aspects of human behavior in the Palaeolithic.