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Showing 301 – 320 of 15962 publications

Current Status and Future Tasks of Conservation and Management for World Heritage Gochang Dolmens

Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites — 2026 — WHE8B570EA3E2

Gochang Dolmens has demonstrated significant conservation achievements over the past 25 years since its inscription. The site's preservation efforts, including the expansion of protected areas and the relocation of residents to maintain authenticity, have set a global benchmark for heritage management. However, the study reveals critical challenges: an overwhelming dominance of domestic tourists (99%), seasonal dependency on events like the Cheongbori Field Festival, and a sluggish post-pandemic recovery in visitor numbers compared to other sites. To overcome these limitations, the research proposes five key strategies for sustainable development: integrating conservation across broader dolmen sites, leveraging national cultural policies for regional revitalization, enhancing global marketing through multilingual resources and international networks, developing immersive digital experiences like AR/VR to diversify audiences, and fostering participatory governance that includes local communities. This approach aims to transform Gochang Dolmens into a dynamic, globally accessible heritage asset that transcends its current constraints.

Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum (Dryopteridaceae), a new sexually reproducing fern from Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park — 2026 — WHE56B576604D

Researchers have identified and described a new fern species, Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum, from the limestone ridges of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam. This discovery stands out due to its unique combination of morphological traits, including pinnae with acute and attenuate apices and distinctive black or dark brown microscales on both surfaces of the pinnae. Unlike its closest relative, C. pachyphyllum, this species also exhibits a sexual reproductive mode, as evidenced by spore counts of 64 per sporangium. The study employed detailed morphological analysis to distinguish this new species from related taxa, contributing valuable insights into the biodiversity of UNESCO-listed Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.

Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum Yoneoka, T. Fujiw., V. S. Dang & Tagane 2026, sp. nov.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park — 2026 — WHE1DB0A37598

A new species of fern, Cyrtomium lacrimipinnum, has been discovered in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park, Vietnam. This species is distinguished by its teardrop-shaped lateral pinnae, black or dark brown microscales on both surfaces of the pinnae, and unique venation patterns. It closely resembles Cyrtomium pachyphyllum and C. hemionitis but differs in key morphological traits such as pinnae apex shape and margin characteristics. The discovery was made through herbarium surveys and fieldwork, with specimens collected from limestone outcrops and crevices within shrubby moist forests. Notably, this species is believed to reproduce sexually, a rare trait among Cyrtomium ferns, which are predominantly apogamous. Further cytological studies are planned to clarify its biological characteristics.

D-Day Fleet 1944, British Sector

Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944 — 2026 — WHE12C2144A6C

A comprehensive analysis of the Royal Navy's role in the D-Day landings reveals the intricate naval operations that secured the British Assault Area from June 6 to June 30, 1944. The study highlights the multinational nature of the fleet, including contributions from Canada, Norway, and the Free French, and underscores the complexity beyond mere troop landings—encompassing minesweeping, defense against enemy counterattacks, and resource sustainment. Leveraging previously underutilized primary documentation, archive photos, original artwork, 3D diagrams, and maps, this work provides a fresh perspective on the sea power that underpinned one of history's largest amphibious operations.

Daily Life and Commerce at Oplontis B

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2026 — WHEC8B85F82EF

Excavations at Oplontis B, a commercial hub near ancient Pompeii, reveal a dynamic suburban landscape thriving with daily and commercial activities up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The site, featuring a two-story courtyard where wine was being bottled, storage areas, streets, and domestic spaces, offers unprecedented insights into the economic and social life of the region. Over 1,500 amphorae and five phases of development spanning from the mid-2nd century BCE to 79 CE were identified through systematic excavations by the Oplontis Project since 2012. This study synthesizes these findings, highlighting the commercial significance of a nearby warehouse and the evolving structure of the complex.

Dante and Cultural Entrepreneurship in Florence

Historic Centre of Florence — 2026 — WHE3C4074C4A1

A responsible model of cultural entrepreneurship, centered on Dante's legacy, can diversify tourism in Florence while preserving authenticity and promoting resident participation. This 'Dante Ecosystem' integrates monuments, museums, bookshops, educational institutions, performing arts, crafts, and digital services through thematic routes, participatory experiences, evidence-based digital interpretation, and collaborative governance. The approach emphasizes universal accessibility and visitor-flow management to ensure sustainable economic development. The study combines literary tourism scholarship, historical analysis, and official documentation to propose this innovative framework.

Dar’s Data: A Collaborative AI-Driven Framework for the Preservation and Generative Reinterpretation of Vernacular Heritage : Case Study of the Medina of Fez

Medina of Fez — 2026 — WHE5BF1DFFC25

A novel AI-driven framework, 'Dar’s Data,' demonstrates the potential to revolutionize the preservation and reinterpretation of vernacular heritage by integrating low-cost photogrammetry, 360° immersive visualization, and participatory sourcing. This approach goes beyond traditional static archiving, capturing the dynamic socio-architectural essence of living heritage sites like the Medina of Fez. The framework introduces 'heritage projection' through two modules: F’Darna, a gamified environment for intergenerational knowledge transmission, and Dar Ghdda, an AI-driven generative design concept that adapts traditional morphological rules for contemporary sustainable construction. A pilot implementation at Dar Seffarine validates the feasibility of this hybrid workflow, highlighting its potential to bridge historical documentation with future urban resilience.

De cárcel a patrimonio mundial: historia del impacto ambiental en la Isla Penal de Coiba, Panamá (1872-2023)

Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection — 2026 — WHE285D9BD161

Coiba Island, once a penal colony and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has undergone significant environmental transformations over 150 years. The study identifies nine distinct periods of land use and disturbance, revealing that despite extensive human activity—including selective logging, multi-stratified agroforestry, and cattle ranching—approximately 80% of the island remains covered by mature forest. Key findings include the presence of long-lasting fallow periods (33-9 years) creating a gradient of succession from the center to the east, and contrasting contemporary sites with divergent histories. These insights underscore the resilience of Coiba's ecosystems but also highlight the need for long-term studies to fully understand the legacy of anthropogenic perturbations.

Deciphering Iconographic Symbolism and Spatial Significance: An Evaluation of the Hazuri Bagh Baradari (1818–1819), Lahore's Sikh Architectural Heritage

Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore — 2026 — WHE68414CD1A5

The Hazuri Bagh Baradari (1818–1819) in Lahore, built during Ranjit Singh’s Sikh rule, was strategically positioned between the Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort to symbolize Sikh sovereignty. Its iconographic elements reflect a hybrid architectural style, representing cross-cultural interactions beyond mere aesthetics. This study reveals that the Baradari's location and design were not coincidental but purposeful, reinforcing Ranjit Singh’s authority while maintaining cultural continuity from the Mughal era. The research employs qualitative methods, primarily literature review, to analyze its spatial significance and ornamental symbolism. Further comparative studies on Sikh architecture across South Asia are recommended.

Decoding Sacred Landscapes: The Interplay of Spirituality and Vernacular Built Forms in Riverine Settlements in Asia

Historic City of Ayutthaya — 2026 — WHE0090FCE843

Sacred landscapes in riverine settlements are dynamic, adaptive cultural systems shaped by ritual use, embodied memory, and vernacular spatial practices. This study reveals that sacred urbanity emerges through recurrent typologies such as processional routes, water-based ritual zones, thresholds between sacred and secular domains, and multisensory atmospheres. Unlike static heritage constructs, these landscapes evolve continuously, sustained by community participation and sensory authenticity. The research employs a qualitative comparative case-study methodology, integrating spatial mapping, phenomenological observations, interviews, and interpretive analysis across three historic Asian river cities: Varanasi (India), Hoi An (Vietnam), and Ayutthaya (Thailand). It advances a memory-based analytical framework, advocating for conservation strategies that prioritize ritual continuity, community engagement, and sensory authenticity alongside physical preservation. This approach reframes sacred landscapes as living vernacular systems, offering culturally responsive solutions for managing heritage riverfront settlements in rapidly transforming urban environments.

Decoding the magmatic to hydrothermal evolution and Sn metallogenesis in the Fanjingshan granitic system: A tourmaline geochemical perspective

Fanjingshan — 2026 — WHE445D8E6789

Research at Fanjingshan reveals a multi-stage process of tin enrichment and deposition, tracing the magmatic to hydrothermal evolution through tourmaline geochemistry. The study identifies three distinct tourmaline types (Tur-I, Tur-II, Tur-III), each reflecting different stages of Sn metallogenesis: initial compatible behavior in the melt, fluid-exsolution transport under reduced conditions, and oxidation-triggered incorporation into tourmaline. Boron isotope variations further confirm this transition, with δ11B values indicating fluid-rock interaction and magmatic-hydrothermal processes. This work sheds light on the complex mechanisms underlying Sn metallogenesis in peraluminous granites of the Neoproterozoic Jiangnan Orogen.

Decoding the Middle Tonian Tectonic Evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China: Integrated Constraints from Volcano-Sedimentary and Magmatic Records of the Fanjingshan Region

Fanjingshan — 2026 — WHE775CCD69F3

A comprehensive analysis of the Fanjingshan region reveals that the Middle Tonian tectonic evolution of the Jiangnan Orogen, South China, was driven by subduction and collision rather than a mantle plume. This conclusion is supported by integrated sediment provenance data from 1736 detrital zircon U-Pb ages and geochemical studies of coeval magmatic suites, including basalts, mafic–ultramafic sills, and granitoids. The study identifies a four-stage tectonic model: an early passive margin phase (pre-870 Ma), followed by continental arc development (870–835 Ma), collisional amalgamation (835–820 Ma), and post-orogenic rifting (post-820 Ma). Geochemical signatures, such as calc-alkaline affinities and subduction-fluid indicators in basalts, further corroborate the plate margin setting. This work underscores the importance of combining sedimentary and magmatic records to reconstruct ancient orogen evolution.

Deeksha Bhoomi and the Navayana Buddhism: A Challenge to the Indian Caste System

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya — 2026 — WHE5DDBCCE297

A comparative analysis of Deeksha Bhoomi and Mahabodhi Temple reveals distinct approaches to Buddhism's role in challenging India's caste system. The study highlights how Navayana Buddhism, symbolized at Deeksha Bhoomi, contrasts with Mahayana Buddhism promoted by the Mahabodhi Temple, reflecting differing cultural and political revival movements. It explores the contrasting views of M.K. Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar on 'graded inequality' within casteism, using ethnographic narratives from Bodh Gaya and intellectual perspectives from the city. This research underscores the significance of these sites as focal points for anti-caste movements, offering insights into their broader social and political implications.

Defensive Architecture and the Oval Shape in Military Treatises between the 16th and 18th Centuries

Fortifications of Vauban — 2026 — WHE9BC4C07C3B

A reassessment of 16th and 17th-century military treatises reveals that the oval shape, though marginalized by the dominant polygonal 'alla moderna' fortification paradigm, was conceived as a cultivated alternative. While theoretical challenges hindered its widespread adoption in large urban fortifications, smaller coastal strongholds like Fort Pâté, Fort Louvois, and Fort Lupin—part of Vauban's Atlantic coastal defense network—demonstrate its practical feasibility. These findings highlight the oval's potential as an effective design matrix in specific defensive contexts, bridging theoretical innovation with operational implementation.

Definition of Structural Typologies and Selection of Representative Buildings for Seismic Assessment in Bagan Archaeological Site

Bagan — 2026 — WHE5A2731CB25

A comprehensive classification system for structural typologies of Bagan's archaeological site has been developed, focusing on plan symmetry and vertical continuity. This methodology enables the identification of representative buildings for seismic assessment, facilitating targeted recommendations for repair and retrofitting to mitigate seismic vulnerability. The study enhances the understanding of the site's monuments' seismic behavior through a weighted-point-based system, aiming to improve preservation efforts and protect Bagan's heritage against future seismic events.

Del bullicio al vacío: transformaciones urbanas y declive de las salas de cine en Santa Cruz de Tenerife y San Cristóbal de La Laguna (1970-2025)

San Cristóbal de La Laguna — 2026 — WHE37ADC1E662

A profound shift in urban dynamics and cultural memory is revealed through the decline of cinema theaters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna from 1970 to 2025. The study demonstrates that this transformation goes beyond changes in consumer behavior, highlighting a significant mutation in public leisure spaces and the symbolic void left by cinema in contemporary cities. By integrating geography, history, and visual culture, the research reconstructs the stages of theater decline—from neighborhood cinemas to multiplexes—and analyzes both the logic behind their obsolescence and practices of resistance, such as heritage preservation and film festivals. The case of Tenerife serves as a key example for understanding broader urban cultural transformations.

Del camino de la plata al daño permanente a la salud. Intervención médico forense

Camino Real de Tierra Adentro — 2026 — WHE006787F2E5

Historical mining activities along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, have left a lasting legacy of health damage to workers and nearby communities. This study reveals persistent health impacts from silver mining, including silicosis, respiratory and auditory pathologies, and metal poisoning from arsenic and lead exposure. Contamination of air, soil, and water persists, with forensic medicine playing a critical role in documenting these damages through multidisciplinary expertise. The research employs criminology verde principles to assess long-term health effects and inform public policy for population protection.

Dental enamel hypoplasia and intra‐tooth isotope records as indicators of physiological stress and environmental variability in Early Pleistocene hippopotamids from Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia)

Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia — 2026 — WHEE5595F3561

Researchers uncovered distinct links between physiological stress and environmental variability in Early Pleistocene hippopotamids from Melka Kunture, Ethiopia. By analyzing dental enamel hypoplasia (LEH) alongside stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes in sequential enamel samples, the study revealed contrasting patterns in two specimens dated to ~1.4 and ~1.0 million years ago. One specimen exhibited broad isotopic variation and discrete stress episodes tied to changing hydrological conditions, while the other showed prolonged or recurrent stress under relatively stable but water-limited conditions. These findings suggest that LEH combined with intra-tooth isotope analysis can provide insights into individual life histories, physiological stress, and environmental dynamics in fossil mammals.

Deoxygenation in the Equatorial Panthalassan Ocean Predated the End-Triassic Mass Extinction

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek — 2026 — WHE01980B424A

A groundbreaking study reveals that deoxygenation in the equatorial Panthalassan Ocean began well before the end-Triassic mass extinction, challenging previous assumptions about the timing and causes of this critical event. Researchers analyzed stratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and geochemical data from the Grotto Creek section in Alaska, spanning the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period. The dataset includes high-resolution measurements of organic carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) as well as iron speciation, providing a detailed record of oceanic conditions during this pivotal interval. Samples were collected from Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, offering unique insights into the environmental changes that preceded one of Earth's most significant mass extinctions.

Departing With the Wind: Spring Migration Timing in Brent Geese From Their Most Important Staging and Wintering Site, the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site

Wadden Sea — 2026 — WHEF72942B090

Brent geese fine-tune their spring migration departure from the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site by integrating local wind conditions and atmospheric pressure, exploiting transient atmospheric opportunities to optimize migratory timing. The study reveals that tailwind assistance increases departure probability by 20% per additional m/s, while higher humidity reduces it, with wind selectivity declining over the season as migratory urgency grows. Using GPS tracking data from 43 individuals across seven seasons (2015–2024) and hourly meteorological data, researchers applied Cox proportional hazards models to analyze 18,036 hourly risk intervals. This demonstrates that Brent geese balance environmental cues with migration urgency, highlighting potential vulnerability to climate-driven shifts in North Atlantic wind regimes.