ABSTRACT
The history of acoustics has not yet been written, especially the history of acoustic techniques. So-called acoustic pots are probably the only currently identified archaeological object that can be considered as having had an acoustic function in medieval Europe, and so understanding the intentions governing the selection of pots and their inclusion in walls and vaults would help us comprehend the foundations of acoustic practice in buildings, alongside the study of scholars’ texts. Thanks to a decade of research (400 buildings identified in Europe, 1,000 pots measured in France), we have been able to establish a ‘grammar’ of technical knowledge that led prominent contractors, builders, and architects of the past to embed pots in buildings. The chapter focuses on the spatial distribution of pots relative to liturgical space and religious performance to better understand the intentions of builders trying to improve the quality of the soundspace.
