A modular computational acoustic model of ancient Chavín de Huántar, Perú.

Inspired by on‐site observations and measurements, a computational acoustic model of the interior architecture of the 3000‐year‐old ceremonial center at Chavín de Huántar, Perú is presented. The model addresses the foundational study by Lumbreras et al. (1976) which posited an acoustic system integral to Chavín architecture involving “a network of resonance rooms connected by sound transmission tubes.” We propose a translation of the topology of Chavín gallery forms to a modular computational acoustic model based on bi‐directional digital waveguides, representing the corridors and ducts, connected through reverberant scattering junctions, representing the small rooms. This approach combines known architectural dimensional and material data with representative measured acoustic data, thus economizing the collection of impulse response measurements required to accurately simulate site acoustics. Applications include virtual acoustic reconstruction of inaccessible or demolished site structures, and auralizations of hypothesized architectural forms, allowing any desired sound sample to be “played back” in the modeled acoustic context.