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Publications

Showing 30161 – 30180 of 30315 publications

The choice of Aksum as a metropolis

Aksum — 2010 — WHE0B5535CC7C

Aksum's strategic location, nestled away from the Red Sea within the Tigray Plateau and near the western escarpment, played a pivotal role in its rise as a metropolis during the early 1st century CE. This positioning allowed the Aksumite state to harness abundant agricultural, geological, floral, and faunal resources from the surrounding lowlands and highlands. The study suggests that local factors, including competition among leaders for fertile lands, were primary drivers behind Aksum's selection as the capital, leading to the formation of a centralized administration. Hagos (2010) supports this with historical analysis, highlighting how these dynamics shaped the political landscape of the Aksumite civilization.

The Chronology of the Façade Tombs at Petra: A Structural and Metrical Analysis

Petra — 2010 — WHE9C38CEBDE4

Contrary to the long-held assumption that complexity increased over time, a new analysis of Petra's façade tombs suggests that larger and more complex non-classical designs—such as Double Pylon and Hegr Tombs—likely date to earlier periods than their smaller, simpler counterparts (Single Pylon and Step). This finding challenges traditional chronologies, which have relied on typology rather than absolute dating. The study employed firsthand documentation of tomb interiors combined with statistical analysis to examine relationships between façade dimensions, types, chamber structures, and burial installations. By integrating these metrics, the research proposes a revised relative chronology that could reshape our understanding of Petra's architectural evolution.

The Citadel, Palace of Sans Souci, Ramiers: Three Monuments, One Symbol of Freedom

National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers — 2010 — WHE4BCE0B2E49

Haiti's National History Park, comprising the Citadel, Palace of Sans Souci, and Ramiers, stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and national identity. This study highlights heritage as a cornerstone for the re-founding of the nation, blending personal anecdotes with historical analysis. The research draws on vivid narratives from Haiti's founding era to emphasize the monuments' significance in shaping modern Haitian society. By positioning heritage at the center of national reconstruction, the work offers a unique perspective on how cultural landmarks can influence contemporary identity and development.

The conceptual hydrogeological model of the Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes National Park — 2010 — WHE198AAC8DB2

A conceptual hydrogeological model of the Plitvice Lakes National Park reveals that the park's unique karst landscape is sustained by groundwater flow from the Mala Kapela mountain area and runoff directed toward the Black Sea basin. The system relies on poorly permeable Triassic dolomites acting as natural barriers, which regulate water flow to create the iconic lakes and waterfalls. Lakes Prošćansko and Kozjak play a crucial role in maintaining high water quality throughout the park. However, the model also highlights a vulnerability: water from Lake Kozjak and the Lower Lakes can sink underground along a fault line, posing risks if natural functioning is disrupted. This study integrates geological and hydrological data to provide insights into the dynamic balance of this fragile ecosystem.

The Construction and Use of Cahokia’s Grand Plaza

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — 2010 — WHE1406690A22

Archaeological excavations at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site reveal that the grand plaza, built as the centerpiece of Cahokia's city plan around 1050 A.D., was more spacious than previously estimated. The construction required an immense labor investment, potentially exceeding 10,000 person-days for just one-quarter to one-third of the plaza. Evidence suggests the presence of a gallery of upright posts and small buildings in front of Monks Mound, the largest earthen pyramid at the site. By the 13th century, domestic structures lined the plaza edges, indicating evolving urban use over time. The study utilized excavations conducted in 1997 and 2004 along a 1200 m-long waterline corridor through the central plaza to uncover these previously unknown aspects of Cahokia's monumental space.

The Cultural Economy of Landscape and Prospects for Peripheral Development in the Twenty-first Century: The Case of the English Lake District

The English Lake District — 2010 — WHE1A1DB50995

The English Lake District's development is shaped by its cultural economy, which integrates natural landscapes, literary and artistic heritage, and food production. This study reveals how these elements, combined with a complex institutional environment, create a path-dependent trajectory of growth that benefits local producers, residents, and tourists. By examining the region's tourist experience today, the research highlights the significance of creative industries in peripheral areas like the Lake District, offering insights into their potential for sustainable development.

The cyclic Rørdal Member – a new lithostratigraphic unit of chronostratigraphic and palaeoclimatic importance in the upper Maastrichtian of Denmark

Stevns Klint — 2010 — WHE00E7CED7B5

Researchers have identified the Rørdal Member, a new lithostratigraphic unit within the upper Maastrichtian chalk of Denmark, marking a significant early late Maastrichtian cooling event. This cyclic chalk-marl unit, approximately 10 meters thick, is distinct from surrounding pure white chalks and is recognized across multiple boreholes and outcrops, including Stevns Klint and the Rørdal quarry in Aalborg. The study leverages coccolith and brachiopod data to place the member within specific nannofossil and brachiopod zones, confirming its lower upper Maastrichtian age. Isotope analysis further supports its role as a basinwide isochronous marker, offering valuable insights into palaeoclimatic shifts during this period.

The diet of New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) on the Auckland Islands, New Zealand

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands — 2010 — WHED712247C9F

New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae) on the Auckland Islands primarily target endemic land birds, including the Auckland Island rail, snipe, and teal, which collectively make up a third of their prey by weight. This study analyzed 1588 bones from 215 bird individuals across 18 species, alongside feathers and range stones found in regurgitated pellets, revealing a diet heavily influenced by procellariiform seabirds—evidence suggesting nocturnal hunting behavior. While the bellbird was the most frequent prey, Antarctic prions and subantarctic diving petrels were also common. The findings highlight the falcons' role as apex predators, maintaining balance in an ecosystem where endemic ground-dwelling birds face extinction risks from introduced mammals but persist under native predation pressure.

The Disegni intagliati: A forgotten book illustrating the first discoveries at Herculaneum

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2010 — WHE8ABE62024A

A rare surviving example of early excavation documentation, the Disegni Intagliati di Pitture Antiche (1746), sheds new light on the political and historical context of Herculaneum's first discoveries. This work, comprising 90 engravings of marbles, bronzes, and paintings, was likely commissioned for the King of Naples but was soon overshadowed by a more comprehensive publication. Recently rediscovered in Madrid's Royal Library, its reconstruction reveals how limited distribution and shifting priorities led to its obscurity. The study provides fresh insights into 18th-century excavation practices and their societal implications.

The distribution pattern of Heritiera littoralis Dryand. on the Ryukyu Islands as affected by seed dispersal via ocean currents

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2010 — WHEB71CA16908

Research on Heritiera littoralis, a sea-drift seed dispersal plant found on the Ryukyu Islands, reveals that its distribution is significantly influenced by ocean currents. The study identified two distinct haplotypes of H. littoralis: one common in the northern part of Okinawa Island and another new haplotype present in the southern part of Okinawa Island, as well as on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. This pattern suggests that seeds dispersed via ocean currents can achieve a wider distribution over shorter periods. The findings were derived from an analysis of the non-coding region (intron) of chloroplast DNA rpl16 sequences, providing genetic evidence to support the role of ocean currents in plant dispersal.

The division of booty in late Byzantium (1204–1453)

Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios — 2010 — WHEC2C58B093E

Late Byzantine empire's division of booty, particularly from 1204 to 1453, was governed by complex and often contentious mechanisms. Savvas Kyriakidis' study reveals that the distribution of spoils—whether from military campaigns or conquests—was not merely a logistical matter but a politically charged process deeply intertwined with imperial authority, monastic patronage, and social hierarchy. The research employs a combination of archival analysis, textual interpretation of chronicles and legal codes (e.g., Typikon of Lips Monastery), and comparative study of Byzantine administrative practices to dissect how booty was allocated among the emperor, military leaders, clergy, and aristocracy. A key finding is that while the emperor theoretically held supreme authority over spoils, regional governors and monastic institutions often exerted significant influence, blurring the lines between state revenue and ecclesiastical wealth. The study also highlights the role of religious rhetoric in legitimizing such distributions, as seen in dedicatory verses and epigraphic evidence from sites like the Monasteries of Daphni and Nea Moni of Chios.

The Dwellers: The Integration of Art and the Architecture in the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas

Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas — 2010 — WHE817BEA77D4

A groundbreaking shift in architectural design is highlighted in the study of Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, where Carlos Villanueva's approach to integrating arts evolved from a traditional 'synthesis' to an innovative 'integration.' This transformation involved creating a cohesive architectural-sculptural-pictorial organism that prioritized functional and spatial elements equally, moving away from hierarchical structures. The research emphasizes how this integration opened new avenues for experimentation in modern art within architecture, marking a significant departure from conventional practices.

The Early Mesozoic evolution of the Western Greater Caucasus (Russia): Triassic–Jurassic sedimentary and magmatic history

Western Caucasus — 2010 — WHE2DD6575338

A significant discovery in the Western Greater Caucasus reveals that during the Jurassic period, a broad asymmetric basin with emergent volcanic islands formed in the region. This basin development was linked to incipient back-arc rifting in Pliensbachian times, coeval with similar events in the Pontides and South Caspian Sea areas, possibly due to renewed Tethys subduction. Further rifting reactivation occurred in the Aalenian, leading to significant continental lithosphere thinning and the formation of pull-apart basins. Subduction-related volcanic activity expanded significantly from the Eastern Pontides–Lesser Caucasus to the Transcaucasus, southern Greater Caucasus, and Crimea region by Bajocian times, indicating a shallowing subducting slab. This event marked the onset of the post-rift stage in the back-arc region, followed by subsidence and extensive accommodation space creation filled by Late Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Cenozoic sedimentary successions. The study analyzed structural, sedimentological, and petrological data from 41 sites across the Fore-Caucasus, Central Greater Caucasus, and Southern Slope areas.

The Ecology of Coral Reef Top Predators in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Papahānaumokuākea — 2010 — WHEEFBA79BEA9

Coral reef ecosystems within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) are uniquely dominated by top-level predators, notably giant trevally and Galapagos sharks, which significantly influence shallow-water reef fish assemblages. Unlike other remote Pacific atolls, PMNM exhibits lower diversity among predatory teleosts such as groupers and snappers. Predators in this region demonstrate strong site attachment to specific atolls while exhibiting extensive movement within those atolls, with highest abundances observed in fore-reef habitats. The study highlights the diverse foraging behavior of these top predators and their potential for exerting indirect ecological impacts on reef ecosystems. Identified knowledge gaps suggest directions for future research to better understand predator dynamics in this protected marine environment.

The effect of fire on birds of mulga woodland in arid central Australia

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — 2010 — WHE0345B80E5D

Fire significantly alters the composition of bird communities in mulga woodlands, with granivorous species dominating recently burnt areas while foliar insectivores thrive in older or unburnt woodlands. This study, conducted at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, found that fire transforms vegetation structure from grassland to woodland over time, which in turn shapes bird community dynamics. Researchers compared 63 sites with varying time-since-fire (2002, 1976, and long-unburnt) during winter and spring of 2005–2006, measuring vegetation structure and bird densities. The findings reveal a monotonic response to fire, with no species peaking in the intermediate burnt treatment, underscoring fire's role as a key ecological driver in arid Australia beyond rainfall.

The effects of tourism development on rural livelihoods in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Okavango Delta — 2010 — WHEC2A9FE69C2

Tourism development through Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) has successfully improved rural livelihoods in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. A study analyzing data from Khwai, Sankoyo, and Mababe villages found that communities transitioned away from traditional activities like hunting, gathering, and farming to engage in tourism, leading to enhanced access to basic needs such as shelter, employment, income, and social services. The research, employing long-term surveys and in-depth interviews, demonstrated that CBNRM has not only boosted livelihoods but also fostered social capital, contradicting claims of failure in community development projects. This finding underscores the potential for sustainable tourism to drive rural development while conserving biodiversity.

The efficacy of the World Heritage Convention as a planning tool for the rigorous protection of natural sites

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks — 2010 — WHED0714C9A58

The World Heritage Convention, while not providing the rigorous protection advocated for natural sites like Canada's Rocky Mountain Parks, offers more advantages than disadvantages. It confers prestige and international recognition, reduces susceptibility to political or financial expediency, and provides informal monitoring by the IUCN. The Convention also leverages global attention and potential delisting threats to ensure durable protection of significant sites. This study evaluates its efficacy against ten criteria, including permitted activities, inclusiveness of designation purposes, strength of protection, and implementability. It highlights that while the Convention allows some resource extraction and motorized recreation, it remains a valuable tool for international advocacy, particularly for developed nations in protecting globally significant biomes.

The Encroaching Forest: Struggles Over Land and Resources on the Boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park — 2010 — WHE24D615FCAD

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park's expansion into privately owned land represents a new form of state control, primarily through conservation policies that dispossess local farmers and restrict their access to resources. This encroachment not only limits rural communities' ability to respond to crop raiding but also prevents them from utilizing their own land, highlighting a significant conflict between wildlife protection and human rights in Uganda. The study employs a case analysis approach to explore these dynamics, emphasizing the broader implications of state-led conservation strategies on local livelihoods.

The endemic plant families and the palms of New Caledonia: a biogeographical analysis

Lord Howe Island Group — 2010 — WHE378AF33E40

New Caledonia's unique plant biodiversity, including three endemic families and several genera, reveals distinct biogeographical patterns shaped by tectonic history. The study identifies four palm clades with allopatric regional connections spanning western Indonesia to the eastern Tasman/Coral Sea, including Lord Howe Island Group. These patterns are attributed not to dispersal or adaptive radiation but to the complex fusion of eight terranes during New Caledonia's formation. Trans-tropical Pacific links trace back to Cretaceous igneous plateaus that migrated across the Pacific, influencing modern flora distribution. This analysis underscores the significance of geological processes in shaping regional biodiversity.

The Exercise Tablets from Chantier B in Susa Revisited

Susa — 2010 — WHE00AA891A0C

A re-examination of thirty-three exercise tablets from Susa, Chantier B, reveals their significance as discarded scribal training materials spanning 450 years. These tablets, excavated in 1966-67 and previously published only in transcription, provide new insights into the formation of scribes during this period, particularly highlighting the use of the Silbenalphabet A script. The revised publication includes photographs and refined dating, offering a more comprehensive understanding of ancient scribal education practices.