Doctorante en Archaéoacoustique – Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), Stanford University
General research
Luna Valentin is a PhD candidate in archaeoacoustics at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University. Her research lies at the intersection of acoustics, audio technologies, and music composition. By combining advanced methodologies, she works on reconstructing the soundscapes of the past to better understand the impact of sound on human experience in various environments, ranging from natural caves to sacred structures.
Luna develops an innovative approach that combines field acoustic measurements with advanced signal processing techniques and 3D modeling. She designs tools such as PyRAT (Python Room Acoustics Toolkit) to analyze acoustic data collected in the field. She also explores new methodologies for integrating acoustic research into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for archaeological sites while studying the potential of 3D acoustic modeling to recreate soundscapes that have disappeared or are inaccessible. Through the use of auralization tools, she offers immersive experiences, providing both the public and researchers access to the sound dimension of ancient environments.
Involvment in Chauvet Cave
The Paleoacoustics project brings together researchers from Stanford University (USA), NTNU (Norway), Inria (France), and CNRS (France) to develop innovative technologies and multimedia systems to faithfully recreate the soundscapes of Chauvet Cave, taking into account its Paleolithic occupation and its current state. Since 2022, extensive fieldwork has been conducted to precisely measure the acoustic properties of the cave's various galleries and chambers, creating a detailed database. This preparatory phase is essential for developing an acoustic model of the cave during the Paleolithic period by utilizing recent geological data on the transformations that have shaped the cave over the past 30,000 years. These transformations include the formation of concretions (stalactites, stalagmites, etc.) and the collapse of the cave's entrance around 29,000 years ago, events that have profoundly altered the cave's acoustic characteristics.
Luna actively participates in the development of the current acoustic model of the cave, leading the acoustic measurement campaigns. She also works on integrating acoustic data into the cave's Geographic Information System (GIS) to explore potential correlations between acoustic properties and other archaeological data, such as the locations of artworks and material remains. Additionally, she coordinates the efforts of modeling and auralization based on the measurements taken in the cave since 2022.