Thursday October 27, 2022

Steve Waller studies sound reverberations at rock art sites around the world. He calls the field archaeoacoustics. And he theorizes many sites, including here in Utah, were chosen because of their ability to reflect sound. Waller also applies his research to local mythologies, from ancient Europe to the Hopi, and finds that images can correlate with echo myths. Plus, cities across the country — but especially in Colorado’s Front Range - are experiencing a housing crisis as rent outpaces wages. That's led to an increase in homelessness and stricter laws to punish activities associated with not having a home. This criminalization tends to funnel homeless into jail or the court system. But Boulder is trying a different approach — community court.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: The 'Kachina Petroglyph Panel' is seen near Mexican Hat, Utah. Steve Waller has found acoustic peculiarities at cliff faces with rock art near the San Juan River. (Steve Waller)

// Steve Waller: Rock Art Acoustics
https://sites.google.com/site/rockartacoustics/

// Source New Mexico: Preserving the Natural Sonic Environment in Bears Ears
https://sourcenm.com/2022/09/07/preserving-the-natural-sonic-environment-in-bears-ears/

// Boulder Reporting Lab: Boulder’s Community Court Has Dismissed Hundreds of Nonviolent Charges Related to Homelessness
https://boulderreportinglab.org/2022/03/04/boulders-community-court-dismissed-nonviolent-charges-homelessness/