Listening to archaeology museums

Abstract

AbstractWhat does an archaeology museum sound like? Museum practitioners in general have, in the past decade, participated in a ‘multisensory turn’ within the humanities, bringing a new awareness to the potentialities for sound and soundscapes in exhibition strategies. This chapter explores the intersections between archaeology, sound, and museums, offering brief overviews of sound’s relationship with archaeology and museum practice while providing key examples of sound on display within archaeology museums. Finally, a case study of an artistic research project, the Museum of Portable Sound, explores a museological object-based approach to the curation of sounds within the archaeology museum, demonstrating how empathic listening between institution and visitor can contribute positively to visitor experience.