Sounds of Qatar: Preserving Qatari Aural Culture through Digital Sound Archives

Although the introduction of emerging technologies has enhanced the position and value of culture within societies, it has also started a conversation on the need to preserve and protect the same- particularly during times of rapid change and development. The need to remember the past in order to establish the present and understand the future continues to grow, especially as the possibilities of what can be preserved increase through digital technology. One of such possibilities is aural culture; sounds that distinguish or represent a culture or region. Despite tendencies to perceive the Gulf states as historical bastions of Gulf futurism. Qatar like most countries has a rich history and deeply rooted traditions, in addition to being a rapidly modernizing society. As efforts are made in preserving other traditional aspects of its unique culture, efforts in preserving its aural culture or soundscape, are still in their infancy stage. Hence, this thesis project aims to highlight and demonstrate the significance of Qatari aural culture in the field of Qatari cultural heritage preservation, by creating a sound map of an iconic traditional urban landmark- Souq Waqif. This project not only aims to document the sounds unique to Souq Waqif, in order to preserve its identity and aural experience for future generations, but it also aims to justify the use of sound maps as a tool for the preservation of sound through an interactive method, providing an authentic aural experience of the place, even to those who have physically never visited. As digital sound archives become more prominent in the field of cultural heritage preservation, with many researchers actively undertaking projects across the globe, this project aims to put Qatar on the map for the same- and showcase not only the growing impacts of modernization on sounds that may be lost amidst a dynamic urban landscape.