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Priestly Violence, Martyrdom, and Jesuits: The Case of Diego de Alfaro (Paraguay, 1639)

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) — 2016 — WHECE7B455139

The case of Diego de Alfaro, a Jesuit priest who died fighting bandeirantes (slave raiders) in 1639, challenges traditional perceptions of Jesuit conduct and highlights the Society's role in frontier missions. Alfaro's actions, defended as heroic and virtuous by his peers, including provincial Diego de Boroa, are examined through Boroa's apologia to reveal the Jesuits' active involvement in regional conflicts. The study argues that Alfaro's death was not an isolated incident but a consequence of the Jesuits' presence and mission in the Paraguay-Uruguay region, which shaped violent encounters with slavers. This rare documented case offers insight into the complex dynamics of Jesuit distinctiveness, blending priestly duty with martial action.

Primulina suichuanensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Danxia landform in Jiangxi, China

China Danxia — 2016 — WHE7C991E540F

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina suichuanensis, has been discovered in the Danxia landform region of Jiangxi, China. This species is morphologically distinct from its closest relative, P. roseoalba, with key differences including entire leaf blade margins, narrowly ovate bracts, reddish-purple or bluish-purple corolla, a 3.0–3.4 cm long corolla tube, white filaments, and a 3.6 cm long pistil. Primulina suichuanensis flowers from September to November, adding to the biodiversity of this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colorful, layered rock formations.

Priorización de actuaciones medioambientales de ríos con entornos urbanos

Historic Walled Town of Cuenca — 2016 — WHE37341A7EC5

A hybrid decision-support model combining Delphi, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and VIKOR techniques has been successfully applied to prioritize environmental rehabilitation actions for urban rivers, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the historic walled town of Cuenca, Spain, cultural heritage and river naturalization emerged as the most valued criteria, accounting for 28% and 25% of expert panel preferences, respectively. The study found that trapezoidal cross-sections for river rehabilitation offer stable advantages over modified triangular designs, facilitating optimal integration with townscape while balancing construction, operational, and maintenance costs. This approach addresses the complexity of urban river restoration by systematically evaluating tangible and intangible factors, including cultural heritage, natural dynamics, and economic considerations.

Procedencia de la mica de Teotihuacan: control de los recursos suntuarios foráneos por las élites gobernantes

Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan — 2016 — WHE8779B6B3EF

Research reveals that mica, imported from the Valley of Oaxaca, was predominantly concentrated in elite compounds within Teotihuacan during the Classic period (first 6 centuries CE), particularly at the Xalla Palace and the Viking Group. These sites, linked to the city's governing elite, contained over 90% of the mica found, with approximately 37 kg discovered at Xalla. In contrast, multi-ethnic neighborhood centers like Teopancazco had minimal mica presence. Archaeometric studies, including X-ray diffraction and neutron activation analysis, characterized the mica and compared it with sources in Oaxaca's Valley, suggesting that most Prehispanic mica likely originated from the modern mine of Minerales de Antequera S.A. in Ejutla. This finding indicates a significant control over foreign luxury resources by Teotihuacan's ruling elite.

Processions and Populations

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge — 2016 — WHE689F3438F4

Medieval and Renaissance popes strategically orchestrated processions and urban theatricals to reinforce the Church's spiritual authority and temporal rule, mirroring Rome's imperial rulers' use of public spectacles. These ceremonies, including translations of icons, funerals, and public games, were carefully choreographed to manifest papal power and control over contested sites. The most significant procession was the papal possesso, a route that evolved into a key east-west passage in Rome, often modified during political tensions but maintained even when popes resided in Avignon. Upon returning to Rome in the mid-15th century, the possesso became a symbol of the intertwined rebirth of city and Church, with its route reversed from St. Peter's to the Lateran. Over time, the ceremony grew more elaborate, serving to confirm papal sovereignty over the Christian world, city government, and nobility, while delineating their relationships with the pope.

Producing a World of Remains in Indian Ocean Africa: Discrepant Time, Melancholy Affect and the Subject of Transport in Capital Art Studio, Stone Town, Zanzibar

Stone Town of Zanzibar — 2016 — WHE2CD25E3015

Capital Art Studio in Stone Town, Zanzibar, employs a unique visual idiom that challenges the heritage industry's narrative by re-presenting the city as a 'melancholy palimpsest.' This approach simultaneously evokes Zanzibar's past as an 'island metropolis' while resisting its consignment to history. The studio's photographic archive reveals discrepant temporalities, offering surfaces for self-fashioning that contrast with those of other postcolonial studios. By framing the past within a neoliberal global order, the studio articulates a time that was both cosmopolitan and commodifying, providing a nuanced perspective on Zanzibar's complex historical interface between the Indian Ocean world and continental Africa.

Producing the Route of St. James: The Camino de Santiago in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France — 2016 — WHEF908219E78

The Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route leading to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, experienced significant cultural and political transformation during the 19th and 20th centuries. This study reveals that the modern revival of pilgrimage along this route was not merely a religious phenomenon but also a strategic construction of political ideology, which gained substantial cultural capital over time. The research focuses on the intensive efforts behind the production of the cult of St. James during the medieval period, particularly under the leadership of Diego Gelmírez (1093–1140), who used textual sources like the Codex Calixtinus to document privileges and appeal to donors. These texts, though often seen as outsider accounts, were actually produced in Santiago de Compostela to serve specific audiences, including wealthy patrons and pilgrims. The study employs a combination of historical analysis and documentary evidence to uncover the complexities of this cultural and political landscape.

Production Sites of Early Iron Age Greek Bronze Tripod Cauldrons: First Evidence from Neutron Activation Analysis of Casting Ceramics

Archaeological Site of Olympia — 2016 — WHE2B1C2D898B

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) reveals distinct chemical groupings of clay pastes used in Early Iron Age Greek bronze tripod cauldron production, enabling the geographical localization of ancient casting workshops. The study analyzed 61 samples from Olympia and five from Kalapodi, demonstrating that NAA effectively traces production sites and travel routes of both workshops and clients. This provides unprecedented hard data for modeling political and economic structures in Early Iron Age Greece, leveraging preserved clay cores or mold residues on tripod fragments.

Production Technology Of Glass Bracelet From The West Cemetery Of Umm El-Jimal In Northeastern Jordan

Umm Al-Jimāl — 2016 — WHE2AE944CAC7

A study on glass bracelets from the West Cemetery of Umm Al-Jimāl, Jordan, reveals that these artifacts, likely of Islamic origin, were produced using a mix of natron and plant-ash glassmaking techniques. The research employed SEM-EDX analysis to examine 20 fragments, finding that some bracelets incorporated recycled older glass and metal by-products as colorants. Decorative colors like red, white, and yellow-green were achieved through the dispersion of micron-scale copper crystals, tin oxide, and lead-tin oxides in the glass melt. This study sheds light on the sophisticated production technologies and material reuse practices prevalent during the period.

Profile: Moving Stonehenge

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites — 2016 — WHE11A540DB0B

Stonehenge's construction has long fascinated archaeologists, and a review of 20th-century experimental studies reveals significant insights into the transportation and assembly of its megaliths. Research indicates that while the exact methods remain speculative, experiments have demonstrated feasible techniques for moving large stones using ancient tools and labor forces. These studies suggest that Neolithic communities could have transported bluestones from nearby sources like the Preseli Hills in Wales using sledges, rollers, and possibly water transport. The findings challenge assumptions about the technological limitations of prehistoric societies, highlighting their advanced engineering capabilities.

Projected changes in area of the Sundarban mangrove forest in Bangladesh due to SLR by 2100

The Sundarbans — 2016 — WHE313329B6A2

Projected sea-level rise by 2100 may result in significantly smaller area losses for the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh compared to previous estimates, with potential net losses ranging from 81–178 km² under a low scenario (0.46 m rise) to 583–1393 km² under a high scenario (1.48 m rise). The study used remote sensing, field measurements, geographic information systems, and simulation modeling with the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM), which was calibrated against observed area losses from 2000 to 2010. Findings suggest that erosion may remain the dominant loss driver under certain scenarios, while inundation due to sea-level rise could become dominant only under the highest projected rises.

Promoting ecosystem services through ecological planning in the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal

The Grand Canal — 2016 — WHE64871788A4

Ecological planning can significantly enhance ecosystem services (ES) and revitalize historic landscapes, as demonstrated by a 67% increase in ES following its implementation along the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, once a vital transportation artery, now suffers from degraded water quality due to wastewater disposal. The study applied modern ecological theory to redesign the waterfront landscape, establish wetlands, and improve environmental governance, shifting the dominance of ES from regulating and supporting services to cultural and regulating ones. These measures not only restored historic landscapes but also provided a framework for sustainable heritage management, offering a practical model for balancing ecological renewal with cultural preservation.

Promoting geological heritage through postage stamps

Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast — 2016 — WHECA3F615850

Postage stamps serve as an effective medium for promoting geological heritage, showcasing diverse landscapes and significant contributions to geology. An analysis of British and New Zealand stamps reveals a rich tapestry of coastal, glacial, fluvial, and volcanic landforms, including the iconic Giant's Causeway. These stamps also celebrate pioneering figures like Charles Darwin and highlight fields such as paleontology, economic activities related to geology, and industrial heritage. Additionally, they depict building stones used in ancient monuments, bridges, cathedrals, and domestic architecture. This study underscores the potential for future stamp issues to draw from recently published geosites lists, offering a tangible way to engage both academic and general audiences with geological heritage.

Prospects and Limitations of Citizen Science in Invasive Species Management: A Case Study with Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park — 2016 — WHEEB3EDDBC6A

Citizen science can significantly contribute to invasive species management, such as controlling Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in Everglades National Park. A study analyzing 2000–2014 data revealed patterns in python observations and removals, including demographic shifts post-cold events, though interpretation is limited by lack of search-effort information. Starting in 2014, the study incorporated search-effort tracking via a citizen-science program, which showed low participation due to factors like low observation rates (e.g., 1 python per >40 hours of searching). While visual searches are ineffective for population control, citizen-science efforts remain valuable for collecting critical search-effort data, despite challenges in incentivizing participation.

Protect the Tasmanian wilderness

Tasmanian Wilderness — 2016 — WHEC75DF9D87A

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), spanning 1.6 million hectares, is one of the largest remaining temperate wilderness regions in the Southern Hemisphere and a critical global biodiversity hotspot. A 2014 proposal by the Australian federal government to remove 74,039 hectares for economic development was rejected by UNESCO, yet state-backed projects continue to threaten its integrity. The World Heritage Committee has explicitly urged Australia to halt such developments, but compliance remains uncertain, leaving the TWWHA's pristine wilderness values at risk. This study highlights the urgent need for federal leadership in upholding the World Heritage Convention and emphasizes the role of local communities in advocating for the protection of this irreplaceable ecosystem.

Protected Designation of Origin Extra Virgin Olive Oils Assessment by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Multivariate Statistical Analysis: “Terra di Bari”, an Apulian (Southeast Italy) Case Study

Castel del Monte — 2016 — WHE906B4F5F8A

A study on extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) from the 'Terra di Bari' Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in Apulia, Italy, reveals that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analysis can distinguish EVOOs based on cultivar and microclimate differences. The research analyzed 102 monovarietal oils from Coratina, Ogliarola Barese, and Cima di Mola cultivars, as well as three geographical mentions within the Bari district (Bitonto, Castel del Monte, and Murgia dei Trulli e delle Grotte). Findings indicate that EVOOs can be classified by their geographical origin and cultivar, with significant differences observed even between oils from the same Bitonto area but different cultivars. Additionally, the Coratina cultivar showed variations linked to microclimate conditions, particularly when comparing Bitonto and Castel del Monte subareas. This study enhances traceability and authenticity verification for 'Terra di Bari' PDO EVOOs, providing a robust method for classifying commercial products based on their declared origin and cultivar.

Protecting Çatalhöyük

Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük — 2016 — WHEEB4CC7A6AA

A unique perspective on the Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük emerges from 'Protecting Çatalhöyük,' which challenges conventional archaeological narratives by incorporating the viewpoint of a site guard, Sadrettin Dural. This work reveals the lesser-known dynamics of excavations, including the local conflicts and cultural practices that often remain unseen. By blending indigenous interpretations with scholarly insights, the study offers a revolutionary understanding of archaeologists' roles and the lived experiences of villagers in contemporary Turkey. The research employs a multivocal approach, combining Dural's firsthand accounts with explanatory notes from project director Ian Hodder, providing a rich, cross-disciplinary exploration of cultural anthropology and archaeology.

Protection of the world heritage against archaeological research : the case of the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps registered at UNESCO

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps — 2016 — WHE36D473B249

The Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, face a critical challenge: balancing their protection with the need for archaeological research. This study identifies the tension between preserving the integrity of these fragile sites and conducting necessary excavations to advance knowledge about Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures. It proposes a new management model that reconciles these conflicting interests by ensuring conservation while allowing controlled research. The approach involves synthesizing existing knowledge, promoting cross-border collaboration among six countries, and addressing threats from natural phenomena and human activities. By doing so, it aims to safeguard this outstanding heritage for future generations while fostering scientific inquiry.

Public Transport Accessibility Levels for Ahmedabad, India

Historic City of Ahmadabad — 2016 — WHE06757A38A8

A novel methodology adapted from London's public transport accessibility framework reveals significant spatial disparities in Ahmedabad, India’s public transport network. This approach integrates GIS mapping with key metrics—average walk speed, distances to stops, and peak-hour route frequencies—to generate Public Transport Accessibility Levels (PTAL). Findings highlight critical gaps that could inform urban planning, such as land-use integration, transit-oriented zoning, and parking policies. The study demonstrates how PTAL mapping can serve as a practical tool for prioritizing public transport investments and reducing traffic congestion in historic cities like Ahmedabad.

Qhapaq Ñan Wamanin: los Lugares de Libación como Hitos de la Memoria en cada Paisaje Sagrado de la Ruta Principal hacia el Chinchaysuyu

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System — 2016 — WHE61AC182CB2

Research on the Qhapaq Ñan, the Andean Road System, reveals that it served as a ritualistic network connecting sacred landscapes to Cuzco, reinforcing imperial memory. The study proposes that libation sites and ceremonial platforms (Usnos) marked key points along this route, facilitating sequential rituals that linked local ancestral traditions with Inca solar cults. These Usnos acted as mnemonic landmarks, integrating the territory under Tawantinsuyu's domain. The approach combines archaeological analysis of infrastructure with ethnographic insights into ritual practices, demonstrating how the Qhapaq Ñan functioned not only as a physical path but also as a symbolic circuit of memory and power.