World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 28521 – 28540 of 30315 publications

Crossing trails in the marshes: rigidity and flexibility in the governance of the Danube Delta

Danube Delta — 2011 — WHE8C53844AC6

Environmental governance in the Danube Delta is shaped by rigid path dependencies and flexible interdependencies, with direct citizen participation alone risking reinforcement of informal institutions. The study combines path dependence theory and social systems theory to analyze governance evolution, revealing that effective reforms require collaboration across multiple institutions rather than isolated citizen engagement. This insight challenges conventional approaches to participatory governance in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Danube Delta.

Cryptic lineages and Pleistocene population expansion in a Brazilian Cerrado frog

Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks — 2011 — WHE454505A0D9

A study of the Brazilian Cerrado frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus reveals cryptic lineages with deep divergences, challenging the perception of the Cerrado as a barrier-free habitat. Phylogenetic analysis identified three distinct lineages: the Chapada dos Guimarães (CG) clade, which diverged in the late Miocene and likely represents a cryptic species; the southeast (SE) clade, associated with historical Atlantic forest distribution; and the Central Cerrado (CC) group, paraphyletic relative to the SE clade. Historical demography analyses suggest significant population expansion in the CC and SE populations, linked to Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and the formation of open habitats. The study highlights the complex diversification history of the Cerrado, a morphoclimatic domain under severe anthropogenic threat, and underscores the likelihood of underestimated biodiversity in this region.

Cult and Society in Early Athens. Archaeological and Anthropological Approaches to State Formation and Group Participation in Attica. 1000-600 BCE

Acropolis, Athens — 2011 — WHE8E39436CDE

A groundbreaking doctoral thesis challenges the long-held assumption that the cult of Athena on the Acropolis was the sole and initial unifying force for Early Iron Age Attica. It reveals that the 'Athenaioi' (Men of Athena) emerged as an elite group confined to the Athenian plain, while other autonomous regional groups proliferated throughout Attica from the 8th century BCE, leading to political fragmentation. The study argues that a process of cultic exchange between these groups, spanning the late 7th to mid-6th centuries BCE, paved the way for social and political integration, culminating in Cleisthenes' reforms (508/7 BCE). By synthesizing extensive cultic remains from 1000–600 BCE, this research offers a new narrative of early Athenian state formation, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between cult practices and societal organization.

Cultural Event as a Territorial Marketing Tool: The Case of the Ravello Festival on the Italian Amalfi Coast

Costiera Amalfitana — 2011 — WHE15B734F525

The Ravello Festival serves as a powerful territorial marketing tool, significantly enhancing the competitiveness and global recognition of the Amalfi Coast. This study demonstrates that cultural events can strengthen local identity while promoting both tangible and intangible resources of a region. By analyzing the festival's history, management, and supply system, researchers highlight its strategic role in positioning Ravello as a 'City of Music.' The findings underscore the coherence between the festival's strengths and Ravello's development strategy, emphasizing its ability to attract international attention and boost tourism.

Cultural implications of architectural mortar selection at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park — 2011 — WHEF43C1909E9

Ancestral Pueblo peoples at Mesa Verde National Park demonstrated a clear preference for mortars composed of sandy clay loam to clay loam textures, with a temporal shift observed in soil selection at Spruce Tree House—moving from mesa-top soils during early occupation to those below cliff dwellings in later periods. This study reveals that mortar geochemical composition varied between cliff dwellings and even within households due to local soil differences or potential amendments, suggesting shared access to mortar sources among contemporaneous households. The presence of gypsum in mortars is also discussed, hinting at possible land tenure rights extending beyond agricultural lands.

Cultural Landscape and Goldfield Heritage: Towards a Land Management Framework for the Historic South-West Pacific Gold Mining Landscapes

Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand — 2011 — WHE319480B04D

A novel framework for interpreting and classifying historic gold mining landscapes as cultural landscapes is proposed, offering new insights into their heritage significance and sustainable tourism potential. The study argues that mid-nineteenth century goldfields, when analyzed within the context of organically evolved landscapes linked to surrounding farmland, reveal hidden disruptive aspects of mining that have been overlooked in World Heritage listings. By drawing on case studies from Victoria (Australia) and Otago (New Zealand), the research demonstrates how these landscapes can be thematically interpreted for their cultural value while addressing gaps in current heritage management approaches.

Cultural Property and Heritage in Japan

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape — 2011 — WHE4970BC3988

UNESCO World Heritage designation transforms the value and perception of cultural properties, converting symbolic capital into economic assets through branding. This study highlights how official recognition alters property relationships in rural communities, such as Ōmori in Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, exposing heritage sites to reinterpretation by administrators and tourists while restricting their use. Despite local resistance to urban standards, legal frameworks of cultural property inherently involve communities in preservation efforts. The research examines these dynamics through fieldwork conducted post-designation (2007-2009), revealing conflicts between regional traditions and national policies. It also explores the role of heritage in community development programs (machizukuri) and the linguistic nuances surrounding cultural property, offering insights into Japan's broader heritage management challenges.

Cultural Triangle and Beyond: A Spatial Analysis of Cultural Industries in Istanbul

Historic Areas of Istanbul — 2011 — WHE9B3AAFD0D8

Istanbul's cultural industries—arts and culture festivals, the film industry, and fashion design—are spatially concentrated within a distinct 'cultural triangle,' forming a vibrant urban core characterized by dense social networks, historic buildings, and a critical mass of creativity. This study identifies this clustering as a key driver for economic development in the city, contrasting sharply with the peripheral areas that lack such cultural vitality. The research employs spatial analysis to map these industries' distribution, revealing how their concentration enhances urban attractiveness while highlighting disparities in spatial planning. Suggestions for policy intervention aim to bridge this gap, promoting more equitable cultural and economic growth.

Current state of forage resources and feeding of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and musk oxen (Ovibos moschatus) in the arctic tundras of Wrangel Island

Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve — 2011 — WHE0C4CD754BF

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and musk oxen (Ovibos moschatus) on Wrangel Island exhibit strong dietary selectivity, favoring willows (Salicaceae), which constitute nearly half of their diet year-round. Despite sedges/rushes (Cyperaceae + Juncaceae) and legumes (Fabaceae) contributing minimally to the aboveground phytomass (<4–8%), they comprise 27% and 24%, respectively, in their diets. Mosses, dominant in phytomass (40%), are avoided, while lichens—even at high abundance (up to 20%)—are not consumed. The study analyzed plant composition and diet via micro-histological fecal analysis from 2004–2007, revealing critical insights into Arctic herbivore foraging behavior.

Current status of the distribution of the coral-encrusting cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota in southern Japan

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2011 — WHE4C2EFE7530

A significant increase in the distribution of the coral-encrusting cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota has been observed across southern Japan's Ryukyu Archipelago, with at least 36% of surveyed sites now hosting this species compared to just 6% in previous studies from 1984–1985. This suggests that T. hoshinota is now a permanent feature in the region's coral reef ecosystems, potentially due to general reef degradation over the past few decades. The study, conducted between 2009 and 2011, surveyed 64 sites from Amami-Oshima Island to the Yaeyama Islands, with findings indicating that while large outbreaks remain rare, the species is more widespread than previously thought. Most occurrences were found in shallow waters (<5 m), with no strong seasonal influence on abundance. The research also highlights the need for long-term monitoring to assess the ecological threat posed by T. hoshinota to coral reefs.

Cytotoxic Veraguamides, Alkynyl Bromide-Containing Cyclic Depsipeptides from the Marine Cyanobacterium cf. Oscillatoria margaritifera

Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection — 2011 — WHE4B8FE293B1

Researchers have discovered a family of cytotoxic cyclodepsipeptides, veraguamides A-C and H-L, from the marine cyanobacterium cf. Oscillatoria margaritifera collected in Coiba National Park, Panama. These compounds exhibit potent cytotoxicity against human lung cancer cells, with veraguamide A showing an LD50 of 141 nM. The structures were elucidated using advanced NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques. Notably, four veraguamides (A, B, K, L) contain a rare alkynyl bromide functionality, previously observed in only one other marine natural product, jamaicamide A. This discovery highlights the potential of Coiba's marine biodiversity for developing novel cancer therapies.

Daily Activities, Diet and Resource Use at Neolithic Çatalhöyük: Microstratigraphic and biomolecular evidence from middens

Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük — 2011 — WHE6FCF0285F3

Middens at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, offer unique insights into daily activities, diet, and resource use during the early Neolithic period. This study reveals that these deposits contain high-resolution traces of subsistence strategies, including plant resource use, fuel consumption, and dietary practices, which are less apparent in cleaner archaeological contexts like floors. By employing thin section micromorphology, phytolith analysis, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, and biomolecular techniques (GC-MS), researchers characterized the composition and associations of finely stratified midden layers in situ. The integrated approach sheds light on midden formation processes while providing detailed evidence for agriculture, environment, and subsistence practices in this significant UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Damage by insect pests to the Djingarey Ber Mosque in Timbuktu: detection and control

Timbuktu — 2011 — WHEAF1E1CE788

Termites pose the most significant threat to the Djingarey Ber Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Timbuktu, Mali. A detailed survey during the dry-cold season identified three primary wood-damaging pests: Amitermes evuncifer (Termitidae), Bostrychoplites zycheli (Bostrichidae), and Lyctus africanus (Lyctidae). Additionally, plasterer bees (Colletidae) and Sphecidae were found damaging walls and decorated panels. Termite damage was particularly alarming due to its extent and potential for long-term structural impact. The study suggests integrated control and preventive measures to ensure sustainable preservation of this historically significant earthen structure.

Dark Age Bodies: Gender and Monastic Practice in the Early Medieval West (review)

Abbey of St Gall — 2011 — WHE7001F8DB89

A review of Lynda L. Coon's book Dark Age Bodies: Gender and Monastic Practice in the Early Medieval West highlights its innovative analysis of Carolingian monastic culture through a gender theory lens, particularly focusing on the works of Hrabanus Maurus. The study reconstructs clerical masculinity by examining early medieval readings of the body, revealing how Carolingians used Roman artifacts to assert their authority and how linguistic proficiency (speaking proper Latin) defined leadership roles in monasteries, often relegating illiterates to subordinate positions. While the book offers insightful interpretations of monastic practices, including the use of physical discipline by abbots, its application of gender theory to patriarchal institutions like the Benedictine Rule is criticized as misleading and reductive.

Death and Conversion in the Andes: Lima and Cuzco, 1532 – 1670

City of Cuzco — 2011 — WHEA190939D6D

Death and Conversion in the Andes reveals that the Christianization of Andean populations was not merely a process of violent imposition but involved a complex, rational engagement with indigenous culture. The study, focusing on Lima and Cuzco from 1532 to 1670, demonstrates how conquistadors adapted to Andean death rituals and spatial practices, integrating them into Catholic frameworks. By analyzing wills, testaments, archaeological evidence, and anthropological data, the research challenges the stereotypical image of conquistadors as solely destructive figures, highlighting instead a dynamic process of cultural assimilation and reorganization. This innovative approach provides new insights into the intersection of religion, space, and identity in colonial Peru.

Debating Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe National Monument — 2011 — WHE9095AF7295

A critical reassessment of Great Zimbabwe's historical interpretation challenges the application of universal structuralist models derived from other Zimbabwe settlements, arguing that such approaches lack analytical weight for understanding this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study contends that Huffman's critique misinterprets Portuguese written accounts and employs methodologically flawed radiocarbon chronology analyses. It emphasizes the need for future research to prioritize site-specific data publication and avoid overgeneralization, ensuring more robust interpretations of Great Zimbabwe's significance.

Declining Coral Skeletal Extension for Forereef Colonies of Siderastrea siderea on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, Southern Belize

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System — 2011 — WHE4B386CCE35

Forereef colonies of the slow-growing coral Siderastrea siderea on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) in southern Belize have shown a significant decline in annual skeletal extension since the early 1900s, shifting from the fastest to the slowest growth rates. This trend contrasts with relatively stable growth rates observed in backreef and nearshore colonies. The study analyzed 13 coral cores using X-ray imaging to estimate skeletal extension over a century, revealing declines of -0.020±0.005 mm/yr per year for forereef colonies, while backreef and nearshore colonies remained stable at 0.011±0.006 and -0.008±0.006 mm/yr per year, respectively. The findings suggest that forereef corals may be more susceptible to environmental stressors, possibly due to sediment plumes, nutrients, or pollution from neighboring watersheds. Ongoing research aims to reconstruct the history of these stressors to better predict and mitigate future impacts on coral reef ecosystems.

Deforestation and forest degradation in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, 2003–2009

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — 2011 — WHE24E2A167B6

Between 2003 and 2009, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico experienced significant forest degradation and deforestation, with 2152 hectares affected, primarily due to illegal logging by organized gangs. These changes were concentrated in four specific areas outside the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) program and zones of land conflicts. Notably, degradation decreased where logging declined, particularly on properties included in the PES program or where exploitation permits had expired. The study used digital aerial photographs and satellite images to analyze biennial changes, revealing a trend of decreasing disturbances by 2011, attributed to the PES program, promotion of productive activities, and social work in the area.

Degradation of Boreal Forests by Nonnative Herbivores in Newfoundland's National Parks: Recommendations for Ecosystem Restoration

Gros Morne National Park — 2011 — WHE22C31E2F41

Nonnative herbivores are significantly hindering the regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), a dominant conifer, in Gros Morne and Terra Nova National Parks on Newfoundland. The study reveals that red squirrels predate female cones, while non-native rodents and slugs target seeds and seedlings, and moose browse taller saplings, collectively preventing the recruitment of reproductive-aged trees. This disruption shifts seedbeds from optimal feathermoss types to grass-dominated or non-native plant-dominated areas, further degrading balsam fir germination potential. The findings indicate that these changes occur at large spatial scales, affecting both protected and non-protected landscapes. Management recommendations include sustained reductions in moose populations and supplemental planting of fir where understory densities are exceptionally low.

Degradation of stone materials in the Greek–Roman Hadrianic Baths in Leptis Magna (Libya)

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna — 2011 — WHE4766BB58C6

Severe weathering, including honeycomb formation and biological damage, is significantly degrading the limestone and marble structures of Leptis Magna's Hadrianic Baths. This study identifies multiple deterioration factors—such as salt weathering, moisture, temperature fluctuations, and microbial activity—that contribute to structural degradation in this marine climate. The research characterizes the building materials affected by these processes, providing insights into their vulnerability and potential conservation strategies.