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Showing 2601 – 2620 of 15962 publications

New detrital zircon U-Pb and Hf isotope constraints for the Kluane Schist, southwestern Yukon, Canada, and their implications for Cretaceous Insular terrane accretion

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek — 2025 — WHECECB87787E

A new study reveals that the Kluane Schist, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Yukon, Canada, served as a Late Cretaceous depocenter with strong ties to the paleo–western margin of North America. Using detrital zircon U-Pb and Hf isotope analyses from metasedimentary rocks across various structural levels, researchers determined that the Kluane Schist likely formed as the uppermost part of a contractional forearc or arc built upon the Yukon-Tanana terrane. This finding supports models of Insular terrane accretion involving east-dipping subduction beneath a westward-migrating North American continent during the Cretaceous period.

New Distribution Record of Tetrigona apicalis (Smith, 1857) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Ujung Kulon National Park — 2025 — WHE1BE9E7954B

Researchers have documented the first occurrence of the stingless bee species Tetrigona apicalis (Apidae: Meliponini) within Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP), a UNESCO-listed Natural World Heritage Site in western Java, Indonesia. This discovery expands the known distribution of the species on Java Island, contributing critical data for conservation efforts. The colony was found at 883 meters above sea level in Mount Honje's forest, with nests located in tree cavities of Tiliaceae, exhibiting irregular entrances measuring 3.2 cm (longitudinal) and 5.7 cm (vertical) in diameter. Locally known as 'teuwel meunyan,' the bees are associated with traditional incense rituals due to their aromatic scent. The study provides morphological and morphometric details of the species, offering insights for sustainable utilization and future research.

New evidence of correlation between craftsmanship and provenance in early Chinese protoporcelain and hard pottery

Yin Xu — 2025 — WHEB50EDFC05D

A new analysis reveals significant compositional overlaps between protoporcelain and hard pottery from Yin Xu and Wenjiashan, suggesting shared provenance. This finding implies potential exchange of ceramics between the Xiang River basin and the Central Plains during the Shang period. Researchers used energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to analyze major and trace elements in 30 hard pottery samples from Wenjiashan and 29 from Yin Xu, comparing them with data from other Shang–Zhou period sites. Multivariate analysis highlighted regional differences in raw-material processing while confirming the correlation between craftsmanship and provenance.

New family of fossil dragonfly (Odonata, Cavilabiata) from the late Cretaceous (Campanian) Dinosaur Park Formation, Alberta, Canada

Dinosaur Provincial Park — 2025 — WHE46B85DC690

Paleontologists have uncovered a new species of fossil dragonfly, Cordualadensa acorni, belonging to the newly described family Cordualadensidae. This discovery from Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP) in Alberta, Canada, marks the oldest known North American fossil taxon within the group Cavilabiata and the only Mesozoic dragonfly ever recorded in Canada. The specimen provides critical evidence for the evolutionary transition of dragonflies from early Cretaceous ancestors to modern families, filling a significant gap in the fossil record. Additionally, its preservation in the Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) suggests that insect diversity in this UNESCO World Heritage Site is far greater than previously recognized, supporting the hypothesis that Campanian Alberta's ecosystems were rich enough to sustain high trophic levels, including insect predators.

New insights on feeding habits of Kolpochoerus van Hoepen & van Hoepen, 1932 from the Shungura Formation (Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia) using dental microwear texture analysis

Lower Valley of the Omo — 2025 — WHEA78FD7F725

A new analysis of dental microwear textures (DMT) from the Shungura Formation in Ethiopia reveals that Kolpochoerus, a extinct suid genus, had feeding habits distinct from modern suids but shared similarities with the herbivorous Phacochoerus. The study suggests that Kolpochoerus primarily consumed young, low-abrasive grasses and other herbaceous plants, aligning with its morphological adaptations for graminivory. However, this dietary preference appears to have developed with a temporal offset from the rise of C4 plants like grasses, raising questions about the evolutionary drivers of these changes. Researchers built a modern reference using extant suids with contrasting diets to interpret fossil DMT, providing insights into mechanical diet properties and their impact on dental morphology.

New Perspectives and Usual Challenges: Present Technologies for Document Management in Architectural Heritage Conservation-Restoration Works

San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries — 2025 — WHEE86655F6C5

A structured approach to document management in architectural heritage conservation, integrating a Catalogue of Document Typologies (CDT), Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), and semantic knowledge graphs, significantly enhances the organization, visualization, and interrelation of dispersed documents. This method, demonstrated through a case study at the UNESCO-listed San Millán de la Cogolla Monasteries, improves standardization, collaboration across disciplines, and the formalization of conservation knowledge. However, challenges such as interoperability, dissemination, and reuse remain critical to fully realizing its potential.

New regional-scale Classic Maya population density estimates and settlement distribution models through airborne lidar scanning

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche — 2025 — WHEA85C79FF33

A groundbreaking study leveraging airborne lidar scanning has revealed that the Classic Maya civilization (300–900 CE) was far more populous and uniformly organized than previously believed. Analyzing a vast, 95,000 km² area of the Central Maya Lowlands—including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Calakmul—the research estimates a population of 9.5 to 16 million people in this region alone. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about Maya urbanism by demonstrating a consistent spatial model for settlement and agriculture, linking elite and non-elite zones across both urban and rural landscapes. This uniform structure suggests efficient periodic interactions, reshaping our understanding of the civilization's political and economic dynamics. The study aggregates diverse lidar datasets, including reprocessed environmental data with enhanced visibility, to achieve unprecedented regional-scale insights.

New Tamga Petroglyphs from the Zhetyzhol Ridge: Akterek, Basbatyr and Karakyr (Almaty region, Kazakhstan)

Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of Tanbaly — 2025 — WHEC31DF90F44

Researchers have documented 20 new tamga petroglyphs from three sites—Akterek, Basbatur, and Karakyr—in Kazakhstan's Almaty region. These tamgas, clan or family emblems dating from the Early Turkic period to the early 20th century, include two previously unpublished examples from Akterek and Karakyr. The study challenges existing chronological attributions for three signs at Basbatur, suggesting they may date to the late Saka period rather than the Early Turkic era. Additionally, it raises questions about potential connections between these tamga-like signs in Kazakhstan and similar findings in Mongolia. The research contributes new visual documentation of these symbols, inviting further discussion on their cultural significance and historical context.

Newly introduction of indoor passages in Changdeokgung Palace in the early twentieth century: a typological analysis and its architectural implications

Changdeokgung Palace Complex — 2025 — WHEB5457CBB20

A groundbreaking transformation occurred at Changdeokgung Palace between 1907 and 1920, marking the first introduction of fully enclosed indoor passages in traditional Korean palace architecture. This study reveals two distinct passage types—Corridors, which connected separate buildings and were later removed during restorations, and Hallways, which organized interior space within single buildings and became universally standardized post-independence. The findings challenge prior assumptions about colonial imposition, demonstrating instead a complex hybridity where traditional and modern spatial concepts coexisted. By analyzing historical drawings, newspapers, and restoration documents, the research refines architectural typology frameworks and extends postcolonial hybridity theory to palace architecture, offering critical insights for heritage preservation that recognize multiple legitimate historical layers.

News media’s legitimization of disinformation: propaganda and the length of the Uluru Statement

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — 2025 — WHE13120FED66

A study reveals that news media, particularly trusted outlets like News Corp Australia's Sky News, can significantly amplify disinformation by legitimizing extreme conspiracy theories. During the 2023 Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum in Australia, Sky News propagated a false claim about hidden pages of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a significant document advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in government. This propagandist content, often perceived as credible due to media's assumed role in fact-checked reporting, undermines democratic discourse by normalizing misleading narratives. The research underscores how news media's power to shape public perception can distort participatory disinformation, both online and offline, during critical referendums.

Niccolò da Poggibonsi and the “Magical” Bread of Bethlehem

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem — 2025 — WHE84D23F1197

A 14th-century Franciscan friar, Niccolò da Poggibonsi, documented a unique Bethlehem tradition where bread made with water from the Church of the Nativity's well was believed to possess 'magical' properties, particularly for pregnant women. Analysis of his account in Libro d’Oltramare reveals how this ritual symbolically connected cosmic forces through bread and water, offering insights into medieval spiritual practices tied to sacred sites.

No conflict proven?: Assessing the role of the World Heritage Convention in Gabriel Resources v. Romania

Roșia Montană Mining Landscape — 2025 — WHED583BA3E31

A legal analysis of the arbitral tribunal's decision in Gabriel Resources v. Romania reveals no proven conflict between Romania's obligations under bilateral investment treaties and its inscription of the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The study examines whether the tribunal's reasoning aligns with prior case law involving the World Heritage Convention, highlighting potential normative tensions between heritage protection and foreign investor rights that warrant closer scrutiny.

No pump, no problem: evaluating passive eDNA sampling for marine biomonitoring of a nuisance macroalga

Papahānaumokuākea — 2025 — WHEA2AA2F56C3

Passive environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling proves equally effective as active filtration for detecting the nuisance macroalga Chondria tumulosa in remote marine environments, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative. The study found that 15-minute deployments of passive eDNA samplers (PEDS), when paired with increased qPCR replicates, matched the detection sensitivity of traditional active filtration methods, successfully identifying C. tumulosa at low abundances (<1%) in all known cases within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. While PEDS showed higher probabilities of false-positives and false-negatives compared to active sampling, they performed comparably across stationary buoys and roving SCUBA divers, with absorbent cotton rounds outperforming research-grade filters in DNA yield reliability. The findings highlight the potential of passive eDNA sampling for biomonitoring cryptic taxa in resource-limited settings, though further optimization is needed to minimize erroneous detections.

Non-Invasive Chemical Analyses on Byzantine Copper Alloy Doors in 11th and 12th Century Italy

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2025 — WHE91698A7A40

A groundbreaking analysis of Byzantine copper alloy doors from the 11th and 12th centuries in Italy reveals three distinct alloying groups, challenging assumptions about workshop uniformity. Using non-invasive X-ray fluorescence (XRF), researchers identified leaded bronze, leaded brass, and quaternary alloys across eight doors, suggesting diverse metallurgical practices in Byzantine workshops. This finding complicates the association of specific alloys with single workshops or regions, while historical records and inscriptions provide additional dating clues. The study also introduces previously unpublished color illustrations of the Montecassino door's decorated backs, offering new insights into Byzantine craftsmanship and production processes.

North Hooe Mine, Bere Alston, Devon: Historic Building Recording

Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape — 2025 — WHE834E1A2CD5

A historic building recording at North Hooe Mine, Devon, reveals the site's significance as part of Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Despite being derelict since 1855, with buildings plundered by the late 19th century, the surviving structures—including a pumping engine house and smithy—retain key attributes that illustrate the mining landscape's evolution. The study, conducted prior to conservation efforts, documents these remains, which, though in poor condition, hold associative value tied to 19th-century metallurgist Percival Norton Johnson and later failed revivals. The only notable addition post-closure was a 1960s pump house, underscoring the site's historical-illustrative importance.

Nuevos registros de babosas marinas (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) para isla Clarión, archipiélago Revillagigedo, México

Archipiélago de Revillagigedo — 2025 — WHEB7C7E66F35

A recent study on the island of Clarión, part of Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago, has documented 14 species of sea slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia), including 13 new records for the island and five for the entire archipelago. This significant contribution to marine biodiversity knowledge was achieved through continuous sampling at Clarión's southern beaches, intertidal pools, and shallow reef zones between January 2023 and March 2024. The archipelago's unique position at the convergence of cold California Current waters and warm North Equatorial Current waters creates a high-biodiversity environment, though Clarión's remote, rugged terrain poses challenges for research. This study expands our understanding of heterobranch sea slug diversity in the tropical Pacific, highlighting the ecological importance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Numerical and Experimental Seismic Characterization of Byblos Site in Lebanon

Byblos — 2025 — WHE6E03FD37EC

A seismic study of Byblos, Lebanon, reveals significant variations in ground motion due to geological and topographic site effects, with potential resonance from soft, shallow layers. Using field surveys that included ambient vibration recordings, surface waves, and 2D seismic arrays, researchers identified multiple resonant frequency peaks indicative of impedance contrasts and lateral subsurface stiffness variations. These findings were validated through a combination of numerical models and experimental observations, marking a critical step in the seismic microzoning of Byblos. The study highlights the influence of fractured rocks and anthropic deposits on seismic ground motions, offering new insights into the area's seismic hazards and contributing to enhanced resilience and sustainability efforts.

O pomorskich kościołach biskupa Ottona z Bambergu. W dziewięćsetlecie misji

Town of Bamberg — 2025 — WHEE1EB1B493C

Archaeological discoveries, when compared with historical accounts, reveal that at least fourteen small, single-nave churches were built during Bishop Otto of Bamberg's missionary expeditions to Pomerania between 1124 and 1128. These structures, constructed from wood, wattle, and clay, represent the first Christian churches in the region, excluding an earlier cathedral in Kolobrzeg (Kołobrzeg) dating back to 1000 AD. The study sheds light on the settlement context and architectural features of these early ecclesiastical sites, providing insights into their size, shape, and construction techniques.

O texto literário como espaço de memória em O crime do cais do Valongo, de Eliana Alves Cruz

Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site — 2025 — WHE16D3B5DE03

Eliana Alves Cruz's novel O Crime do Cais do Valongo (2018) serves as a powerful tool for reclaiming and resignifying African ancestry in Brazil, challenging historical erasure of black people. The narrative merges fiction with history at the UNESCO-listed Valongo Wharf, offering a memorialist exercise that highlights the struggles and existence of black women, particularly through the lens of intersectionality—race and gender—central to Cruz's work. This literary approach provides evidence of the enduring impact of African heritage in Brazil while contributing to ongoing debates on memory and representation.

Objetos de reacción poética en la Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas

Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas — 2025 — WHE64E29F77FC

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that Carlos Raúl Villanueva's architectural designs for the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, particularly those from the 1950s, embody a biomorphic approach rooted in poetic intuition. This study demonstrates how these structures challenge traditional rationalism by incorporating fluid, irregular forms inspired by nature and imagination, akin to Le Corbusier's 'objetos à réaction poètique.' The research also explores parallels with Oscar Niemeyer's work, highlighting a shared emphasis on sensuality and expressive innovation in 20th-century architecture. By examining bibliographic, planimetric, and photographic sources, the study traces the evolution of these concepts from their origins to contemporary reinterpretations.