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Physicist here. While acoustic levitation is real (we use it in labs to suspend small objects like water droplets), the physics simply doesn't scale to multi-ton objects. The power requirements would be astronomical, and the necessary wavelengths would be impractically large. Modern acoustic levitation works on objects smaller than the wavelength of the sound used - for massive stones, you'd need wavelengths of hundreds of meters and sound so powerful it would kill anyone nearby. Ancient civilizations simply couldn't have produced the required technology.
Anthropologist here. These acoustic levitation theories often stem from a problematic assumption that ancient peoples weren't capable of impressive engineering feats without some kind of 'magical' or advanced lost technology. This underestimates human ingenuity and, frankly, can have undertones of dismissing the achievements of non-Western ancient civilizations. The evidence strongly supports conventional construction methods, impressive as they may be.
Archaeologist who's worked on megalithic sites here. We actually have substantial evidence for the conventional methods used to move these stones - sledges with lubricants like wet clay, wooden rollers, levers, ramps, and lots of human labor. Sites like the pyramid construction camps at Giza show evidence of these techniques. The ancient Egyptians left behind detailed records and depictions of their construction methods that don't mention acoustic technology.
I've conducted experimental archaeology projects reconstructing ancient building techniques. A team of 12-20 people can move surprisingly large stones using simple technology like levers and rollers. We shouldn't underestimate what can be accomplished with clever engineering, coordination, and ample labor. These societies dedicated enormous resources to these projects and developed specialized knowledge over generations.
Regarding the 'ancient texts' describing sound moving stones - these are often mistranslations or taken out of context. For example, some point to Biblical descriptions of trumpets bringing down walls of Jericho as evidence of acoustic technology. But these texts were never intended as technical manuals; they're religious narratives with metaphorical elements. Similar issues arise with interpreting texts from other ancient cultures.
I study ancient engineering techniques specifically. It's worth noting that many megalithic structures show evidence of incremental improvements in technique over time - earlier structures often show less sophisticated methods than later ones. This progression is consistent with humans gradually developing better traditional engineering, not with the sudden application of advanced acoustic technology that somehow was later forgotten.
Something often overlooked is the economic aspect. Acoustic levitation (even if possible) would require extremely advanced technology and specialized knowledge. Traditional methods using simple machines and human labor are economically efficient when labor is abundant. Ancient societies had organizational systems capable of mobilizing thousands of workers - this approach makes more practical sense than developing hypothetical advanced physics applications.
As an ethnomusicologist who studies ancient acoustic practices, I should mention that many ancient cultures did have sophisticated understanding of acoustics - but for ceremonial and communication purposes, not construction. The acoustic properties of chambers in pyramids and temples were designed to create impressive resonance effects for rituals. This deliberate acoustic engineering might contribute to misinterpretations about construction methods.
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