Question

Recent acoustical investigations of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican architecture have challenged the long-held assumption that the resonance phenomena observed at sites such as Chichén Itzá were purely accidental byproducts of monumental masonry. Archaeacousticians employing impulse-response testing have demonstrated that the stepped staircases of the Castillo pyramid produce chirped echoes—reflections that mimic the vocalizations of the resplendent quetzal—only when constructed at specific stair riser-to-tread ratios and using limestone with precise acoustic impedance. Because these precise geometric proportions are consistently absent in secular structures of identical dimensions built during the same architectural period, researchers infer an intentional design paradigm aimed at auditory spectacle. However, skeptics note that contemporary Mayan glyphic inscriptions contain no explicit acoustic terminology, relying instead exclusively on visual and liturgical iconography to record ceremonial rites. This textual silence has led some scholars to argue that any acoustic alignment was an empirical artifact of stone-carving traditions rather than a codified acoustic science. Nevertheless, the systematic replication of these auditory features across geographically disparate ceremonial centers suggests that acoustic knowledge, even if unwritten, was deliberately preserved and transmitted among elite artisan guilds.

Based on the passage, which of the following can be inferred regarding the acoustic properties of Pre-Columbian ceremonial structures? Select all that apply.