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Publications

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Hatra Kingdom: Political Situation

Hatra — 2012 — WHEDCE1C280FC

Hatra's strategic geographical location set it apart from surrounding regions, granting it significant political influence. The city's political roles are distinctly categorized into three functions: formation, gentlemen’s role, and kingship, a framework validated by researchers. This classification underscores Hatra's multifaceted significance in ancient governance, highlighting its unique position as both a cultural and administrative center.

Havana: From local experiment to national reform

Old Havana and its Fortification System — 2012 — WHE327CD87721

Cuba's 2011 national reforms, which marked a significant shift from its revolutionary economic model, were informed by localized experiments in Old Havana and Barrio Chino. These reforms, unprecedented in their scope, drew on lessons from decentralization efforts and management of the informal sector since 2000. The study highlights that while the reforms incorporated specific insights from these case studies, they also aligned with broader development principles advocated by China. This research underscores how localized experimentation can shape national policy, offering a model for understanding economic reform in socialist contexts.

Heaven and Earth—Sustaining Elements in Hakka Tulou

Fujian Tulou — 2012 — WHE4C4AABB8D1

Hakka architecture, particularly the roundhouses known as tulou, exemplifies the adaptability and sustainability of ancient Chinese building practices. These structures, found in the mountainous regions of Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi, not only provided environmental sustainability but also fostered material, social, and spiritual well-being for their inhabitants. The study highlights how the Hakka people, during their fourth migration, returned to traditional northern plain building styles, as seen in Wufenglou in southern Guangdong. This architectural innovation demonstrates a deep cultural connection between ancient northern traditions and modern southern Hakka culture, offering insights into the enduring legacy of sustainable design.

Heavy precipitation events in the Mediterranean: sensitivity to cloud physics parameterisation uncertainties

The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape — 2012 — WHEACEE9680D7

Ensemble predictions based on cloud physics parameterization uncertainties show variable effectiveness depending on the meteorological scenario, with multi-process perturbations offering greater potential at higher model resolutions. The study used the Meso-NH model to investigate heavy precipitation events in southeastern France, comparing two contrasting cases: one associated with a warm, moist flow over the Cévennes ridge and another involving a quasi-stationary meso-scale convective complex over the Rhone valley. While the former case demonstrated higher forecast skill and minimal sensitivity to microphysical perturbations, the latter showed that multi-process perturbations could modulate rainfall intensities more effectively than localization, particularly when model resolution was increased to 500 m. These findings highlight the importance of tailored ensemble strategies for improving predictions in data-scarce regions like the UNESCO-listed Causses and Cévennes landscape.

Heimat Eisenach

Wartburg Castle — 2012 — WHE36A38CBDE9

Eisenach, Germany, serves as a unique case study where multiple historical and cultural forces intersect without losing its intimate, manageable scale. The research highlights the enduring significance of Wartburg Castle, which remains a fixed landmark in the landscape, symbolizing Eisenach's identity. Despite rapid transformations since 1990, the castle persists in local culture, appearing on beer labels, official seals, and even in the name of a former GDR automobile. This study explores how such sites anchor national belonging, blending personal narratives with broader historical shifts.

Hely és identitás. Kritikai regionalizmus az új évezredben, nemzetközi és hazai eredmények

Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment — 2012 — WHEBDDA838978

Critical regionalism, initially proposed by Kenneth Frampton in 1983, offers a potential framework for redefining architectural authenticity and resistance to globalism. This study revisits the concept, integrating insights from Walter Benjamin's aura theory, Gernot Böhme's atmospheric perspectives, and Peter Zumthor's design practices to ground it empirically. By analyzing new buildings within the historical complex of Pannonhalma Benedictine Abbey, the research explores how critical regionalism can be refined to address contemporary architectural challenges while incorporating non-Western approaches to architectural perception. The findings suggest that Hungary's contributions could enrich the reinterpretation of this theory and foster a renewed European identity through experimental architectural practices.

Heritage and communities in a small island developing state: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison — 2012 — WHE7AC90E3EE5

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, Barbados, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, stands as a significant example of British colonial architecture. However, the preservation of this heritage faces challenges, particularly at the community level, where issues of identity persist. The central problem revolves around reconciling Barbadians' historical legacies with their post-colonial identity. This study examines how heritage practitioners can address these complexities, focusing on the interplay between cultural preservation and national identity in a small island developing state (SIDS). The research approach involves analyzing the broader context of heritage development, highlighting the need for strategies that balance historical acknowledgment with contemporary identity formation.

Heritage app

Group of Monuments at Hampi — 2012 — WHE14CB9B43CC

A mobile phone app leveraging computer vision enables instant on-device image annotation for heritage sites, eliminating the need for remote server communication. The app uses a Bag of Visual Words (BoW) retrieval system to match images captured at monuments like Golkonda Fort and Hampi Temples against an annotated database, all computations occurring locally. This innovation offers real-time, offline access to historical information, enhancing on-site exploration without relying on network connectivity.

Heritage challenges in Asian urban cultural landscape settings

Ajanta Caves — 2012 — WHEAA72BE2911

A significant conservation and development project, supported by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan, has been implemented at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta Caves and Ellora. This initiative, totaling 7,331 million yen, focuses on preserving the renowned rock-cut shrines, enhancing airport facilities, and improving tourism infrastructure to boost regional development. The project, evaluated in its first phase, highlighted the need for more intensive efforts to maintain site authenticity and increase local community involvement in restoration and management during the second phase. Initial conservation work, particularly the restoration of famous murals, has been highly praised for its effectiveness and presentation.

High connectivity and lack of mtDNA differentiation among two previously recognized spiny lobster species in the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans

Gough and Inaccessible Islands — 2012 — WHECBBF8CD0E5

A groundbreaking genetic analysis reveals that two previously recognized spiny lobster species, Jasus paulensis and J. tristani, are genetically indistinguishable across thousands of kilometers in the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Contrary to expectations, the study found no significant population differentiation between sites separated by vast distances, suggesting high connectivity and gene flow among these long-lived, drifting larvae-dependent species. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that all sampled individuals formed a monophyletic group, distinct from other Jasus species, while demographic expansion was estimated to have occurred between 14,000 and 118,000 years ago. These findings imply the absence of barriers to dispersal in these remote oceanic habitats and propose that J. paulensis and J. tristani should be synonymized as a single species, J. paulensis.

Higher Mass-Independent Isotope Fractionation of Methylmercury in the Pelagic Food Web of Lake Baikal (Russia)

Lake Baikal — 2012 — WHE827419DFF7

Lake Baikal's pelagic food web exhibits unusually high mass-independent fractionation (MIF) of methylmercury (MeHg), with Δ(199)Hg values ranging from 3.15 to 6.65‰, significantly higher than coastal fish or typical aquatic systems. This MIF persists across trophic levels, indicating it is driven by biogeochemical processes in the deep, oligotrophic water column rather than trophic transfer. The study, which analyzed Hg isotopes and concentrations in seals, fish, amphipods, zooplankton, and phytoplankton, suggests that MeHg bioaccumulation in this pristine ecosystem is influenced by photodemethylation and long residence times of water masses. These findings highlight the unique isotopic signatures of MeHg in remote freshwater systems.

Hind limb osteology of Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia)

Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks — 2012 — WHE6AAA42F336

A detailed osteological analysis of the hind limb and pelvic girdle of Gracilisuchus stipanicicorum, a Triassic pseudosuchian archosaur from Argentina, reveals new insights into its anatomical features and evolutionary relationships. The study describes previously underdescribed or misinterpreted regions, providing a more comprehensive understanding of this extinct taxon. While Gracilisuchus shares morphological traits with non-crocodyliform crocodylomorphs—such as the poorly developed femoral fourth trochanter and an underdeveloped femoral head—it lacks key features (e.g., an imperforated acetabulum) that would place it within Crocodylomorpha. These findings tentatively support its affiliation with Sphenosuchia, a clade of early crocodylomorphs, positioning Gracilisuchus as a sister taxon to this group rather than a direct ancestor.

Hindcast of sediment flow along the Curonian Spit under different wave climates

Curonian Spit — 2012 — WHEE4499126F8

A rotation of wave approach direction by more than 10 degrees could lead to the complete disappearance of convergence points of sediment flow along the Curonian Spit, potentially causing substantial coastal damage. The study analyzed longshore sediment transport under existing and future wave climates using the CERC formula, based on numerically simulated long-term time series of wave properties from 1970–2007. While the spit is currently in an almost perfect equilibrium shape, systematic rotation of wave approach directions showed a linear increase in net transport rate, though bulk transport rates would remain largely unchanged.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Making of Japanese Postwar Architecture

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) — 2012 — WHEE1AED22EC4

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, designed by Kenzō Tange, stands as a symbol of Japan's complex postwar identity. This study reveals that the park was not merely an architectural achievement but a catalyst for debates on internationalism and emerging Japanese nationalism among architects and critics. It catalyzed the development of a distinct 'non-Western' modern architecture in Japan, reflecting the nation's contested history and its transition in the global landscape post-World War II.

Historia Monasterii S. Augustini Cantuariensis, by Thomas of Elmham, Formerly Monk and Treasurer of that Foundation

Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church — 2012 — WHE44CA2B3118

Thomas of Elmham's 'Historia Monasterii S. Augustini Cantuariensis' provides a significant historical account of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, leveraging extensive documentary sources from the Abbey's renowned library. The work, compiled around 1414, aimed to offer a comprehensive history from 597 to 1414 but was left incomplete due to Elmham's appointment as Prior of Lenton. It includes original charters and earlier historical works, though many sources were later found to be forgeries or corrupt transcripts, often used to bolster the Abbey's claims to royal and ecclesiastical privileges. This edition, edited by Charles Hardwick in 1858, sheds light on the Abbey's complex history and its strategic use of documentation.

Historical heritage, landscape and modernity: aspects of the Italian contribution to the IFHTP congresses between the two wars

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2012 — WHEB86BD63105

A significant contribution to the discourse on urban planning and heritage conservation emerged from Italy's participation in the International Federation for Housing and Town Planning (IFHTP) congresses between 1920s and 1930s. The research highlights Italy's innovative yet controversial approach, particularly during the 1929 Rome congress, which addressed critical themes such as integrating multi-storey apartment buildings into modern cities, adapting historic town centres to contemporary needs, urban expansion, and landscape relationships. Italian urban planners like Cesare Chiodi, Gustavo Giovannoni, and Luigi Piccinato played pivotal roles in shaping international town planning culture during this period, offering perspectives that remain relevant despite their historical context.

History and Place in the Nineteenth Century: Irving and Hawthorne in Westminster Abbey

Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church — 2012 — WHED83EA79A59

Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne used Westminster Abbey as a literary lens to explore the evolving identity of American authors on the global stage during the 19th century. Their contrasting perspectives—Irving’s view of history as subservient to the present, likely influenced by post-War of 1812 America, and Hawthorne’s depiction of an immortal past, reflecting pre-Civil War tensions—highlighted the Abbey's role as a site for literary development, critique, and self-definition. Both authors saw Old England as foundational to New England, underscoring how historical places shape cultural narratives. This analysis reveals Westminster Abbey not just as a monument but as an interactive space for intellectual engagement with heritage.

History and Stories of Love and Conversion in Fourteenth-Century Burgos

Burgos Cathedral — 2012 — WHE1BDE64DAB6

A new figurative version of the story of Fleur and Blanchefleur, carved in the corbels of the chapel of Santa Catalina in Burgos Cathedral, has been identified as a unique blend of chronicle and courtly hagiography. This visual narrative, intended to articulate Castilian national identity and reinforce the identity of the urban oligarchy, presents an ancient Muslim Castile converted to Christianity through love. The study analyzes this version alongside its literary counterpart, the late thirteenth-century interpolation in the Cronica fragmentaria, demonstrating its generic flexibility and cultural significance. The research employs a comparative approach, examining both literary and visual elements to shed light on the historical and social context of fourteenth-century Burgos.

Holocene Coastal Barrier Development at Bay of Carness, Mainland Island, Orkney, Scotland

Heart of Neolithic Orkney — 2012 — WHEA4D270A610

A study of the Bay of Carness, Orkney, reveals significant insights into Holocene coastal barrier development and its impact on local ecosystems. The research demonstrates that a saltmarsh transitioned to a freshwater lagoon around 5470±210 radiocarbon years before present (BP) as rising sea levels led to the formation of a swash-aligned barrier, isolating the bay's head. Pollen and plant macrofossil analyses further indicate human Neolithic activity's influence on vegetation dynamics post-4860±120 BP. The study combines landform mapping, sediment analysis, and radiocarbon dating to reconstruct environmental changes, providing a comparative framework with other coastal sites like Wick and glacio-isostatic uplift models.

Homelands of the Mijikenda people: Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, Kenya

Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests — 2012 — WHEF1BD56E5EB

The Mijikenda Kaya Forests, located along Kenya's coast, represent the ancestral homelands of the closely related Mijikenda linguistic groups. These forests are situated on a distinctive coastal topography characterized by low sandstone hills rising parallel to the coastline, with dramatic drops to the Nyika plateau and the semi-arid Taru desert. The study highlights the cultural and ecological significance of these forests, which have been central to the Mijikenda people's identity and way of life for generations. The research approach combines geographical analysis with ethnographic insights, providing a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the Mijikenda community and their sacred forest environment.