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The Influence of Changing Human Aspects on Plaza Spaces in Old Sana'a City

Old City of Sana'a — 2013 — WHED32BA5E061

Plaza spaces in Old Sana'a City, once vibrant hubs of social, economic, and cultural activity, have lost their significance due to changing human aspects. The study identifies key factors such as immigration, cultural and economic opening, technological progress post-1962 revolution, and republican regime influence that contributed to the decline of these spaces. The research proposes revitalizing plazas by enhancing traditional social and cultural values and introducing sustainable activities. An inferring analytical methodology was used to analyze plaza types, functions, human roles, major changes, and potential solutions for revival.

The influence of vegetation on the hydrodynamics and geomorphology of a tree island in Everglades National Park (Florida, United States)

Everglades National Park — 2013 — WHE1409937019

A key finding from this study is that tree root water uptake significantly influences groundwater chemistry and mineral formation in Everglades tree islands, contributing to nutrient accumulation and potential soil development. Researchers measured sap flow, soil moisture, water levels, chemistry, and rainfall across three woody plant communities with varying elevations during the dry season. They discovered that trees relied more on groundwater for transpiration, which lowered the water table and caused advective movement of dissolved ions—including phosphorus—from surrounding marshes toward the island's center. This process led to elevated ion concentrations in tree island groundwater compared to adjacent marsh areas, with supersaturation of aragonite and calcite observed in lower-elevation communities. Elevated phosphorus levels in higher-elevation zones were linked to leaching of inorganic sediments like hydroxyapatite. The study highlights the importance of understanding these complex interactions for managing and restoring patterned wetlands like those in the Everglades.

The Islandscape of the Megalithic Temple Structures of Prehistoric Malta

Megalithic Temples of Malta — 2013 — WHE084A4C25AA

Prehistoric Malta's megalithic temples suggest a sophisticated cosmology integrating land, sea, and sky, likely central to the Temple Period society (5th–4th millennium BCE). Analysis of temple orientation, location, and material culture—including artifacts and iconography—reveals patterns indicative of an islanders' worldview that harmonized terrestrial, maritime, and celestial elements. This interpretation challenges conventional narratives by proposing a cohesive cosmological framework without relying on later historical evidence. The study employs thick description to reconstruct this lost belief system, offering new insights into the cultural and symbolic dimensions of one of the Mediterranean's most enigmatic archaeological sites.

The Lady of the Titles: The Lady of Byblos and the Search for her »True Name«

Byblos — 2013 — WHED59172FAA5

A linguistic analysis of Phoenician inscriptions from Byblos reveals that 'Lady of Byblos' (Baalat Gubal) was indeed considered a proper name by the ancient inhabitants, despite its semantic transparency. The study challenges the long-standing assumption that such titles could not be proper names and demonstrates this through distinctions in writing conventions found in two Byblian inscriptions. This finding is significant as it sheds light on the naming conventions of divine entities in the ancient Levant, where semantically transparent names were not uncommon.

The Landscape and Heritage of Pindar’s Olympia

Archaeological Site of Olympia — 2013 — WHE3A2A7C7A90

Pindar's poetic works at Olympia intricately link the site's physical landscape, mythological heritage, and ancient monuments to reinforce contemporary ideological significance. By weaving together elements like the Alpheios river, Kronos' hill, and the Pelopion, Pindar created narratives that elevated his patrons' social status while connecting past traditions with present-day practices. This study reveals how Olympia's layered heritage—comprising natural features, man-made structures, and mythological lore—served as a dynamic tool for Pindar to shape cultural and political discourse.

The last millennium largest floods in the hyperarid Kuiseb River basin, Namib Desert

Namib Sand Sea — 2013 — WHED3DB7750CC

The largest floods in the hyperarid Kuiseb River basin, Namib Sand Sea, reached peak discharges of approximately 1475 cubic meters per second over the late Holocene. These extreme events, which occurred more than ten times in the last 1300 years, are critical for recharging shallow alluvial aquifers that sustain both human activity and natural ecology in this otherwise water-scarce region. The study, conducted through palaeohydrological analyses of 35 flood deposit sites along a 120 km stretch of the river's canyon, revealed distinct periods of increased flood frequency—particularly between 1250–1335 AD, 1355–1565 AD, and from 1715 AD to the present—with one large flood occurring every 30–40 years. Shorter episodes of heightened activity, such as those between 1185–1205 AD and 1335–1355 AD, also coincided with broader proxy records indicating higher water availability in the Namib Desert.

The Last Supper Interactive: Stereoscopic and ultra-high resolution 4K/3D HD for immersive real-time virtual narrative in Italian Renaissance Art

Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci — 2013 — WHE425C4A26FC

A groundbreaking virtual narrative tool, inspired by Leon Battista Alberti's rules of linear perspective, enables immersive real-time exploration of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.' This stereoscopic and ultra-high resolution 4K/3D HD application, part of the Last Supper Interactive (LSI) project, transforms the iconic 15th-century mural into an interactive learning experience. By leveraging Alberti's theorem virtual tool, users engage with the artwork in a dynamic, three-dimensional environment that preserves its historical and artistic significance while offering new dimensions for study and appreciation.

The Late Viking-Age Royal Constructions at Jelling, central Jutland, Denmark.

Viking-Age Ring Fortresses — 2013 — WHE2113703F63

Recent extensive excavations and re-evaluation of data from the Jelling royal complex in central Jutland, Denmark, have revealed new structural elements that significantly alter our understanding of its history. These discoveries include a 12.5-hectare palisade enclosure and buildings comparable to those found at King Harald Bluetooth's Trelleborg ring fortresses. This challenges previous interpretations of the site's character and provides fresh insights into the transformation processes in 10th-century South Scandinavia, shedding light on the role of Jelling and its kings during this pivotal period.

The Making of Modern Turkey: Nation and State in Eastern Anatolia 1913–1950, by Üğur Ümit Üngör

Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape — 2013 — WHE821508C89B

Scholarship on the Armenian massacres of 1915 in Diyarbakır, a largely Kurdish region, reveals a complex and often overlooked narrative. While atrocities occurred, the term 'genocide' is rarely applied by experts due to the context of military emergency, including an Armenian uprising, and the lack of systematic extermination efforts. The study, originally a Dutch M.A. thesis on Diyarbakır, expands to examine the shifting dynamics of Kurdish tribes and the cultural transformations of the 1930s, such as the renaming of place-names from Armenian and Kurdish to Turkish. It highlights the grim fate of Armenians, Syriac Christians (Jacobite), and Chaldeans (Nestorian), including mass imprisonments, executions, and forced marches, with survivors facing epidemics and starvation in Syrian camps. The research approach combines historical analysis with first-hand accounts, providing a nuanced understanding of the region's turbulent history.

The materiality of spiritual engagement: art and the end of Ohio Hopewell

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks — 2013 — WHEBA49D04D42

Research reveals that the decline of Ohio Hopewell, a ceremonial system in southern Ohio (AD 1–400), was marked by a radical shift in societal perception of materiality and spiritual engagement. The study suggests that the cessation of art production, large earthwork enclosures, and elaborate offerings after AD 400 indicates a widespread rejection of ritual authority and the belief in material objects' ability to mediate with the spiritual world. This transformation reflects a loss of social efficacy in art, challenging traditional understandings of how societies sustain ceremonial practices. The analysis integrates theoretical, historical, and ethnographic data to argue that this shift represents an active cultural change rather than a passive abandonment.

The MayaArch3D project: A 3D WebGIS for analyzing ancient architecture and landscapes

Maya Site of Copan — 2013 — WHE408083A072

The MayaArch3D project successfully bridges the gap between 3D modeling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create an innovative analytical tool for studying ancient architecture and landscapes. This 3D WebGIS, named QueryArch3D, enables researchers to interact with high-resolution 3D models of structures like those in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Copán, Honduras, while also querying spatially referenced data in real time within a virtual reality (VR) environment. Unlike traditional GIS or standalone 3D models, this platform integrates multiple data types—including computer-assisted design and reality-based models—with attribute data stored in spatial databases, offering unprecedented analytical capabilities for humanities research. Beta testing demonstrates its potential to expand research questions and methodologies, marking a significant advancement in digital humanities tools.

The Mediterranean Sea: Cradle of civilization

Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan — 2013 — WHEB9352F006C

The Mediterranean Sea, often called 'Our Sea,' has played a pivotal role in fostering civilization since the earliest settlements in Jericho around 9000 BC. This unique basin, with its distinctive shape and strategic location, served as a crucial communication hub connecting diverse peoples while mitigating conflicts between differing interests. Unlike other basins worldwide, its configuration—comprising islands, bays, and straits—facilitated east-west transportation routes despite its apparent closed nature. The study highlights the Mediterranean's unparalleled significance in shaping human history through its cultural, economic, and geopolitical connections.

The Monastic Ideal of Discipline and the Making of Clerical Rules in Late Medieval Castile

Burgos Cathedral — 2013 — WHE44CBD38FC3

A significant gap emerged between the monastic ideal of discipline and its practical application within the Burgos Cathedral Chapter during late medieval Castile. This study reveals that while clerical rules, inspired by monastic models, aimed to achieve spiritual perfection through strict control over behavior, these ideals often clashed with the realities faced by clerics—who were entangled in societal conflicts, patronage networks, and kinship dynamics. The research analyzes the regulations promulgated by the Burgos Cathedral Chapter and its bishop, demonstrating how they sought to shape both clerical conduct and the behavior of the faithful, yet struggled against the resistance of a secularized clergy. This tension underscores the complex interplay between monastic ideals and the practical demands of medieval ecclesiastical institutions.

The Morphometric Structure of the Larix Gmellinii Recruitment at the Northern Limit of its Range in the Forest-Tundra Ecotone

Putorana Plateau — 2013 — WHE7B4EA01AB4

Recent research indicates that Larix gmellinii, a key tree species at the northern limit of its range, is expanding into the forest-tundra ecotone, particularly on the Putorana Plateau. This expansion is evidenced by younger recruitment ages at comparable heights in the forest line compared to the Ary-Mas site, suggesting improved growth conditions despite harsh environmental factors like steep slopes and coarse soils. The study, conducted across two sites in Northern Central Siberia, analyzed morphometric and age parameters of Larix gmellinii stands, revealing that the Putorana Plateau offers more favorable conditions for regeneration, with recruitment ages nearly halved compared to Ary-Mas. These findings imply a trend of northward expansion over the past 20–30 years, particularly in mountainous regions.

The Nabataeans in Focus: Current Archaeological Research at Petra; Papers from the Special Session of the Seminar for Arabian Studies Held on 29 July 2011

Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev — 2013 — WHED8D8A7B7D1

Recent archaeological research at Petra, Jordan, has uncovered significant insights into Nabataean culture, architecture, and economy. A major discovery includes the identification of a royal residence on the Umm al-Biyara Plateau, featuring luxurious elements such as heated bathing facilities and marble sculptures, which suggests influence from Herodian architecture while addressing water procurement challenges in arid landscapes. Additionally, intensive surveys north of Petra have revealed human activity dating back to the Paleolithic era, with notable increases in settlement during the Hellenistic and Roman periods (50 BCE–250 CE). Excavations near the Qasr al-Bint have pushed back the earliest phases of Nabataean settlement to the fourth century BCE, contradicting historical accounts of the Nabataeans as nomads. The research also highlights the development of shaft tombs and their potential conversion into façade tombs, influenced by Alexandrian architecture, and explores the transition from pagan shrines to Christian monasteries at Jabal Hārūn. Furthermore, the study reconsiders the dating of sections of the Incense Road, demonstrating its evolution from Nabataean to Roman phases post-annexation (106 CE). These findings are based on extensive surveys, excavations, and analyses of artifacts, inscriptions, and architectural features.

The Night Banquet: A Chinese Scroll through Time by De-Nin D. Lee (review)

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang — 2013 — WHEE9ECCB8742

A meticulous cultural biography of the Night Banquet handscroll reveals its dynamic reception across centuries, tracing its journey from probable Southern Song origins to modern ownership. De-Nin D. Lee's study shifts focus from the artwork itself to its textual frame—title-piece, colophons, and seal legends—uncovering how successive audiences interpreted the scroll through 'period eyes.' This approach, inspired by anthropology, demonstrates how connoisseurship, political context (e.g., Ming-Qing transition), and Confucian ideals shaped its meaning. Key phases include Southern Song voyeurism, mid-Yuan Confucianism, and Qianlong-era collecting, culminating in Zhang Daqian's ownership. The scroll's layered history underscores art's evolving role in society.

The Niobid project: Digital modeling and restoration of a complex sculptural group at Hadrian's Villa

Villa Adriana (Tivoli) — 2013 — WHE169630B0F1

A groundbreaking digital restoration of the Niobid sculptural group, originally displayed at Hadrian's Villa, reveals new insights into its ancient context and artistic significance. The project employed advanced scanning techniques to reconstruct 16 statues—depicting Niobe, her children, and a Pedagogue figure—based on surviving Roman copies. By virtually reassembling the group, researchers have provided a clearer understanding of how this mythological narrative was visually interpreted in Hadrian's imperial residence, offering fresh perspectives on both the sculpture's original presentation and its cultural implications during the Roman Empire.

The Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey – I. Setup and initial discoveries

Jodrell Bank Observatory — 2013 — WHEB1B077B9E3

Scientists have discovered 15 new radio pulsars, including a rare millisecond pulsar with high eccentricity and a pulsar with a characteristic age of approximately 18,000 years, through the Northern High Time Resolution Universe (NHTRU) survey. This groundbreaking effort, conducted using the 100-meter Effelsberg radio telescope, marks the first comprehensive northern sky survey at high radio frequencies in two decades. The survey employs a novel 7-beam receiver system and advanced polyphase filterbank, enabling unprecedented sensitivity to millisecond pulsars and fast transients, particularly in dense galactic regions where previous surveys faced limitations due to dispersive smearing. By optimizing observation times based on Galactic latitude, the team has uncovered significant new astronomical data, including potential supernova remnant associations for one of the discovered pulsars.

The Okavango Delta and its Place in the Geomorphological Evolution of Southern Africa

Okavango Delta — 2013 — WHEC6BB557C72

The Okavango Delta, southern Africa's largest and most pristine wetland ecosystem, plays a pivotal role in the region's geomorphological evolution. Research reveals that the delta lies within a graben structure linked to the East African Rift Valley system, significantly influencing river courses and sediment dynamics. The study traces the delta's history back to the breakup of Gondwana, highlighting the impact of mantle plumes and climatic shifts on its formation. It also explores how the delta's unique sediment composition, dominated by fine sand from Kalahari sands, shapes its hydrology and ecology. The research employs a combination of geological analysis and hydrological modeling to elucidate these processes, offering insights into the delta's dynamic water distribution and ecological diversity.

The Old Bridge of Mostar and Increasing Respect for Cultural Property in Armed Conflict

Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar — 2013 — WHE2E478E48D9

This study reveals that the deliberate destruction of the Old Bridge of Mostar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of exceptional historical and architectural significance, constituted a violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and amounts to a war crime. Despite its lack of military significance at the time of destruction, the bridge was protected under IHL, yet its targeting remains emblematic of broader impunity for cultural property-related crimes during armed conflicts. The research evaluates the adequacy of existing legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms by analyzing the incident through normative and jurisprudential lenses, including ICTY precedents. While progress has been made in addressing such crimes, gaps persist at both normative and enforcement levels, underscoring the need for clearer legal prohibitions and stronger implementation to ensure respect for cultural heritage in conflict zones.