Editorial - Telestes 4 (2024)

It is with great pleasure that I presenCovering a broad geographical area and an extensive chronological range, this Telestes issue includes eight contributions that illuminate the multifaceted role of music, dance, and sound within diverse cultural and social contexts. Consistent with our mission, « Telestes » continues to support research into musical and dance performances that offer a rich perspective on the variety of cultural and social environments. This perspective deepens our understanding of the material evidence and sources related to music and dance in antiquity, illustrating how they were essential to ritual practices, sacred actions, and communal life. This issue features a special emphasis on the study of auditory phenomena and the wider sensory experiences found within archaeological sites, particularly in funerary contexts. Moreover, sensory aspects are prominent in contributions that center on dance performances and ‘dancescapes’, delving into the interplay of body movement, space, and architectural structures.