ABSTRACT
The acoustic map presents itself as an objective source of archaeological evidence, legitimizing the study of sound by archaeologists through the utilization and expansion of the foundational method of plan-view map making. Transforming the ephemeral and invisible into something durable and material, the acoustic map allows considered analysis and comparison. A presentation of methods followed by a general discussion of cartographic practices and how these relate to archaeology will articulate what an acoustic map attempts to accomplish. An analysis of the acoustic maps from the Moche (AD100-850) urban site of Huacas de Moche exposes both the limitations and advantages of these maps as a source of data concerning the experience of sound in the past. Acoustic mapping increases the validity of sound studies within archaeology by providing comparable data utilizing replicable methods. The acoustic map provides a necessary foundation for investigating and comparing a generalized human experience of sound in the past, but fails to convey the physical or psychological impact of sound as a powerful source of both communication and bodily experience.
