Open Access

ARTICLE

Preliminary Archaeoacoustic Study of Kanheri Caves in Mumbai (Maharashtra, India)

Ajinkya S. Umbarkar^1,*, Deoram V. Nandanwar¹, Omprakash P. Chimankar²

1 Department of Physics, SMM College of Science, Nagpur, 440009, India
2 Department of Physics, RTM Nagpur University Campus, Nagpur, 440033, India

* Corresponding Author: Ajinkya S. Umbarkar. Email:

Sound & Vibration 2022, 56(2), 193-203. https://doi.org/10.32604/sv.2022.015322

Received 09 December 2020; Accepted 02 April 2021; Issue published 25 March 2022

Abstract

Here we report first ever study on acoustical evaluation of Kanheri Caves located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai (Maharashtra, India). These caves are dated to a period between 2^nd century BCE to 7^th century CE. In this study we used an ambisonic recorder to capture Impulse Response, which carries acoustic signature of the place. Out of total 109 caves 41 were surveyed in available time. Out of those reverberant environment was noted in 12 caves. Measurements were made only in 3 caves (Cave Nos. 1, 3, 11) which are important. In the beginning we carried out an FFT analysis. We then studied room acoustic parameters like Reverberation Time, Early Decay Time, Clarity, Definition, etc., based on the measurement of Impulse response. Cave No. 3 have high value of reverberation time, compared to other. Therefore it also have lower clarity compared to others. It is properties needs to be compared with similar structures (chaityas) in Maharashtra (at Ajanta, Ellora, Nashik, Junnar, etc.) and elsewhere in India. It is worthwhile to carry out further research in Cave No. 3 with more sophisticated instruments as well as 3D modeling. Since the experiment was performed with receiver at only one position, we also suggest to carry out experiment with receiver at multiple positions and then comparing them.

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Keywords

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