Ancient Armenian Acoustics

About the Project

Safeguarding the sonic heritage of Armenian sacred architecture through field recordings, acoustic analysis, and open-access archives.

Purpose

Preserve sonic heritage of Armenian sacred sites, document acoustic characteristics, and provide open-access resources.

The project seeks to safeguard the unique sonic identity of Armenian sacred architecture by documenting how these spaces sound and behave acoustically. This is achieved through field-based impulse response recordings, analysis of key acoustic parameters, and the creation of open-access archives. The data will serve as a reference for architects, engineers, musicians, VR developers, and heritage conservationists, enabling accurate recreation and preservation of ancient soundscapes. Beyond Armenia, the approach contributes to the global conversation on integrating sonic heritage into broader preservation efforts.

Background

The importance of acoustics in sacred Armenian architecture and why sound is crucial to cultural memory.

In recent years, the field of architectural preservation has expanded its focus beyond the visual and structural, embracing the importance of sonic heritage—the unique acoustic environments shaped by historical spaces. Armenia, with its deep Christian roots and a wealth of ancient churches, offers sacred sites that can still be both seen and heard in their original, reverberant beauty. This research explores how these acoustic qualities contribute to the spiritual and cultural significance of these spaces.

Goals & Impact

Heritage preservation, tourism, academic research contributions.

Beyond analysis, our project contributes to the preservation and recreation of sonic heritage. The collected data—spreadsheet results for technical use and immersive audio files for creative applications—will be made publicly available to serve as a resource for architects, engineers, acousticians, and sound designers. These findings will support both academic inquiry and practical efforts to recreate or restore the acoustic essence of ancient sacred sites.

At a Glance

✓ Field-based recordings
✓ Acoustic parameter analysis
✓ Open-access archives
✓ For architects & musicians
✓ Preservation & research impact

Research Sites

Field studies at Surb Hovhannes (Byurakan), Saghmosavank, and Tatev Monastery. Measurements captured impulse responses, reverberation times, and speech intelligibility, alongside environmental notes (temperature, humidity, ambient noise).

Overview

Research was conducted at three historically and architecturally significant Armenian religious sites. Surb Hovhannes (compact, 10th-century) features intimate spatial acoustics; Saghmosavank (medieval monastic complex) exhibits medium-scale reverberation; Tatev Monastery (9th–13th c.) presents long, immersive reverberation due to its monumental scale and stone construction.

Field visits included environmental observations to contextualize acoustic data. Using ambisonic microphones, controlled loudspeakers, and analysis software, we captured impulse responses and derived parameters such as RT60, C80, EDT, and D50—revealing how architecture and materials shape each space’s sonic character.

Surb Hovhannes, Byurakan

Compact 10th-century church with early reflections and warm, intimate reverberation supporting speech clarity and small-ensemble chant.
Acoustic: Shorter RT60; higher D50 → good intelligibility.
Perception: Clear articulation; gentle warmth for vocals.
Notes: Temperature, humidity, ambient noise documented.
Saghmosavank Monastery

Medieval monastic complex with moderate volume and distributed reflections; reverberant yet articulate—well suited to chant and small ensembles.
Acoustic: Moderate RT60; balanced clarity/warmth; improved C80 in nave.
Perception: Good blend with maintained intelligibility.
Notes: Temperature, humidity, ambient noise documented.
Hovhannavank

Acoustic:
Perception:
Notes:
Tatev Monastery

Monumental 9th–13th-century complex; large volume and stone surfaces yield immersive, prolonged decay—majestic for sustained vocal lines.
Acoustic: Long RT60; enveloping ambience; clarity reduced for speech.
Perception: Lush resonance; careful placement recommended.
Notes: Temperature, humidity, ambient noise documented.

Methodology

Our methodology combined advanced equipment, structured data collection, and systematic analysis to document the acoustics of Armenian sacred architecture.

Reconstructing Reverberance

Equipment & Tools

Field measurements relied on advanced audio tools: a Zoom H3-VR ambisonic microphone captured spatially accurate 360° recordings, while a Bose SoundLink loudspeaker emitted calibrated sweep tones. A portable audio interface ensured clean signal capture.

Post-processing in ISIS acoustic software extracted parameters such as RT60, STI, and clarity measures (C50/C80). The dataset also includes 3D sound intensity plots. Planned future enhancements include LiDAR scans and 3D architectural models to integrate spatial geometry with acoustic data.

Data Collection

The workflow combined academic preparation with hands-on fieldwork. Students attended lectures covering sound physics, heritage acoustics, and measurement techniques. On-site, they assisted in equipment setup, calibration, and test signal playback.

Environmental data were recorded alongside audio measurements. Post-processing yielded acoustic metrics, visual plots, and immersive audio files, compiled into an open-access repository for preservation, education, and creative projects.

Analysis

The engineering process involved systematic acoustic analysis: calibrated test sweeps were emitted, and impulse responses captured in ambisonic format. Data were analyzed in ISIS software to produce frequency-dependent RT60, STI, and clarity (C50/C80) values.

Visual outputs, including 3D sound intensity plots, provided insight into directional energy distribution and reflection patterns—mapping how sound decays over time and space within each architectural volume.

Challenges & Solutions

Fieldwork in heritage sites presented unique challenges. Environmental noise, varying temperatures, and limited recording windows required adaptive strategies. Careful scheduling and repeated measurements ensured data reliability, while lightweight equipment preserved site authenticity.