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Vegetal Ornamentation on the Doorframes of the ‘Aziza Palace in Algiers during the Ottoman Era: An Archaeological, Artistic, and Aesthetic Study

Kasbah of Algiers — 2025 — WHE767B394C84

The Ottoman era marked the pinnacle of vegetal ornamentation in Islamic art, characterized by its refinement and sophistication, particularly evident in the Maghreb region. This study reveals that the 'Aziza Palace in Algiers' Kasbah exemplifies this artistic flourishing, showcasing intricate doorframe decorations that blend Persian, Chinese, Seljuk, and European influences. The research employs archaeological, artistic, and aesthetic analysis to demonstrate how vegetal ornamentation evolved into a highly stylized form, moving away from naturalistic representation while retaining its symbolic significance. By examining these decorative elements, the study highlights the Ottoman period's role in shaping Islamic art's most prosperous phase.

Vegetation Structure and Soil Composition Influence Opiliones Diversity Across Spatial Scales in Amazonia

Central Amazon Conservation Complex — 2025 — WHEF3FA6178FC

A study in the Central Amazon Conservation Complex reveals that Opiliones (harvestmen) diversity is influenced by vegetation structure and soil composition, but these effects vary significantly across spatial scales. While local-scale diversity is higher in tree trunks, branches, and leaves due to microhabitat variety, regional-scale diversity is linked to soil and sand content rather than tree density. This scale-dependent relationship underscores the importance of protecting diverse microhabitats, such as mature forests and large trees, for arthropod conservation, while also considering broader geographic factors that may affect species diversity.

Verbenaceae in Emas National Park (Goiás state, Central Brazil), with a focus on chromatic variation in the corollas of Lippia filifolia

Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks — 2025 — WHEF2D91AC7AE

Researchers have uncovered a notable chromatic variation in the corollas of Lippia filifolia within Emas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Brazil's Cerrado domain. Unlike specimens from other regions like the Espinhaço Range and Serra da Canastra, which exhibit yellow corollas, those found in Emas display an uncommon red coloration. This discovery contributes to the taxonomic and biogeographic understanding of Verbenaceae in the Brazilian Central Plateau. The study recorded 12 taxa belonging to three genera, including Lippia stachyoides var. guajajarana, which is endemic to the park. To support conservation efforts, the research provides a synopsis, photographs, and an identification key for the taxa occurring in this critical biodiversity region.

Vernacular architecture, between the sovereignty of the environment and the restoration requirements: The case of Ksar of Igoulmimen and the medina of Meknes

Historic City of Meknes — 2025 — WHE098B898CD8

Vernacular architecture in Morocco exemplifies the harmonious integration of human ingenuity with environmental determinants, reflecting a dynamic interplay between nature and cultural adaptation. This study reveals that restoration efforts in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Ksar of Igoulmimen and the Medina of Meknes often prioritize aesthetic preservation over functional resilience, leading to passive rehabilitation rather than adaptive revitalization. By analyzing these cases through field research and established literature, the study highlights the tension between traditional craftsmanship and modern restoration requirements, questioning whether current approaches foster 'intelligent contextualization' that balances heritage aesthetics with socio-economic sustainability.

Vesna Miović. The Jews of the Dubrovnik Republic, 1546–1808

Old City of Dubrovnik — 2025 — WHE0C09A66772

A detailed historical analysis reveals that the Jewish community in Dubrovnik, established in 1546 within a ghetto modeled after Venice's, experienced significant growth and integration despite periodic tensions with the Church. The study highlights the Ragusan government's progressive stance, supporting Jews as vital economic intermediaries between the Ottoman Republic and Empire while mitigating conflicts, such as those involving Catholic servants in Jewish homes. Over centuries, religious tolerance allowed the community to expand, with the ghetto's boundaries growing alongside its population. The research also explores daily life aspects, including cultural activities like theatrical performances, conversions, and conflicts documented in court records. Appendices list Jewish families across time, supplemented by maps, graphs, and archival documents, providing a comprehensive overview of this understudied yet resilient community.

VI Resumé

Dougga / Thugga — 2025 — WHEF1A132BB9D

A systematic analysis of the fortified landscape in the Thugga region during the 6th and 7th centuries reveals a complex network of urban, village, and agricultural fortifications that played multifaceted roles beyond mere defense. These structures, including military fortresses, ramparts, rural fortifications, fortified settlements, and watchtowers, were integral to strategies of adaptation by local populations, elites, the military, and provincial administration in response to socio-military changes. The study highlights a long-term transformation of both urban and rural spaces, with cities serving as hubs for military, economic, and administrative functions, surrounded by clusters of fortified and non-fortified habitats. Fortifications, often constructed locally and financed by urban elites, were also used as communication infrastructure and agricultural sites. The research, combining archaeological landscape analysis with data from the Rus Africum project and field observations, underscores Thugga's geopolitical significance as a key transit route during the late antique period.

Viability and Morphometry in Agave Seeds as an Initial Study for Sustainable Management and Genetic Preservation

Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica — 2025 — WHE08F7071FB2

A. marmorata seeds exhibit the highest viability (78.49% at 72 hours), indicating robust physiological adaptations, while A. potatorum shows the lowest (57.99%), suggesting potential reproductive challenges. Morphometric analysis revealed significant interspecific differences, with A. angustifolia seeds being the largest and A. marmorata the smallest. This study highlights critical variability in seed viability and morphometric traits among Agave species in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley (TCV), a biodiversity hotspot. Researchers collected seeds from five Agave species, subjected them to controlled dehydration and storage, then assessed viability using the tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test while measuring length, width, weight, and volume. These findings provide key insights for conservation strategies and sustainable management of Agave populations, influencing regeneration efforts and breeding programs.

Views from the Lake: International Harmony and Historical Erasure in Photographs of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park — 2025 — WHEF1C02E9404

Photographic representations of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, from 19th-century topographical images to modern tourism materials, have long symbolized international harmony and cross-border unity. However, these visual narratives strategically erase the colonial history of boundary-making and the displacement of Indigenous communities, whose lands were divided by the 49th parallel. By analyzing recurrent visual tropes of openness and harmony, this study reveals how colonial photographic practices reinforced a narrative of unity while obscuring violence, exclusion, and environmental exploitation. The research employs a critical analysis of historical photographs and documentation to expose these contradictions, offering a nuanced perspective on the park's symbolic significance.

Vijayanagara Historical Temples at A Glance: A Review

Group of Monuments at Hampi — 2025 — WHEFF473E4968

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, stands as a testament to its historical and religious significance, predating the Vijayanagara Empire. The site, known for its monumental architecture and spiritual importance, includes the active Virupaksha Temple and an Adi Shankara-linked monastery. This review provides a concise overview of Hampi's historical temples, highlighting their cultural and architectural heritage. It explores the site's mention in ancient texts like the Ramayana and Puranas, underscoring its enduring religious significance. The study employs a descriptive approach to synthesize key aspects of Hampi's monuments, offering insights into their historical context and importance.

Virtual reality and decolonial practice: a case study of Dunhuang Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves — 2025 — WHE0A17F5F5A0

Virtual reality (VR) technology can shift the narrative around UNESCO World Heritage Sites from one of colonial loss to one that celebrates their artistic and spiritual grandeur, according to a case study of the Shenyou Dunhuang project. The research analyzed user-generated feedback from a digital reconstruction of Cave 61 in the Mogao Caves, revealing how VR facilitates 'digital repatriation' by recontextualizing the site's cultural significance. This finding highlights VR's potential to transform heritage narratives and foster cross-cultural dialogue, while also raising concerns about digital sovereignty and interpretive diversity. The study situates these insights within China's broader cultural policies, such as the Chinese Dream and Civilizational Exchange.

Virtual Reality for Immersive Visualisation of Turkish Cultural Heritages

Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex — 2025 — WHE156C554BB4

Virtual Reality (VR) technology, leveraging Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), offers transformative potential for the preservation and visualization of cultural heritage. This study demonstrates how VR, combined with 3D documentation and modeling tools, can provide immersive, interactive experiences that enhance scientific communication for historical monuments—even those damaged, destroyed, or geographically inaccessible. Through a collaboration between BİMTAŞ (Istanbul) and the Photogrammetry & Laser Scanning Laboratory (Hamburg), three Turkish landmarks—Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Rumeli Hisarı fortress in Istanbul, and the Çatalca İnceğiz Caves—were reconstructed using the HTC Vive VR system. The resulting virtual environments allow first-person exploration, showcasing VR's capability to bridge gaps between physical preservation challenges and public engagement with cultural heritage.

Vision Transformer-based Approach for Classification of Buddhist and Non-Buddhist Heritage Sites in Taxila

Taxila — 2025 — WHE70ED8A0E45

A Vision Transformer (ViT) model achieved 100% accuracy in classifying Buddhist and non-Buddhist heritage sites in Taxila, Pakistan, outperforming conventional convolutional neural networks like ResNet and EfficientNet. The study curated a diverse dataset of images from sites such as Takshasila University, Sirkap, Giri Fort, and the Dharmarajika Stupa, captured under varying conditions to ensure robustness. By leveraging ViT's ability to generalize across different visual features, researchers demonstrated its superior performance in preserving cultural heritage analysis. This approach offers a promising tool for efficient classification of ancient sites, advancing digital preservation efforts.

Visitor responses to emergency evacuation: A human behavior approach

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex — 2025 — WHEDF52401A13

A study of visitor behavior during emergencies at the Tabriz Grand Bazaar, one of the world's largest covered markets and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals that competitive behaviors—such as pushing—dominate evacuations, with only 8.4% of participants showing strong willingness to help others. Over 90% followed others' lead, while 77.8% preferred less crowded exits, indicating high symmetry-breaking tendencies. No gender differences were observed, but marital status, education, and age significantly influenced evacuation strategies. The findings challenge assumptions in crowd simulation models by providing empirical data on real human behavior during emergencies.

Visitors Satisfaction Level with Sustainable Tourism Practices Exercised at World Heritage Sites of Madhya Pradesh

Khajuraho Group of Monuments — 2025 — WHE88466EAFC8

A significant difference in visitor satisfaction with sustainable tourism practices exists among different demographic profiles at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Madhya Pradesh, including Khajuraho. The study also found that perception of sustainability directly impacts overall satisfaction levels. Researchers used structured questionnaires distributed via online platforms to collect data from a random sample in April and May 2024, employing regression analysis to validate these findings.

Visitors, Settler Colonialism and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — 2025 — WHEC11F52157B

Aboriginal cultural heritage interpretation in Australian protected areas, such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, can either challenge or reinforce settler-colonial discourses about Indigenous peoples. Visitor responses to Traditional Custodian-led tours and camps reveal that certain forms of interpretation foster reconciliation by transforming visitor perceptions, while others perpetuate colonial assumptions. The study, based on extensive interviews with visitors, highlights the discursive features shaping these experiences and their implications for heritage interpretation, tourism, and Indigenous cultural heritage management.

Visitors’ Book of the Vysoki Dečani Monastery: Russian Names

Medieval Monuments in Kosovo — 2025 — WHEC26A624FFA

A unique insight into Russian-Serbian ecclesiastical and cultural ties emerges from the analysis of the Visitors' Book of the Vysoki Dečani Monastery, revealing a rich tapestry of names, signatures, entries, and commemorative notes left by Russian visitors. This study highlights the significance of this lesser-studied historical document in understanding pilgrimage history and Russian emigration patterns in the Balkans. The research employs a meticulous examination of the Visitors' Book, contributing valuable data to the broader discourse on transnational religious and cultural connections during the medieval period.

Visualization microclimate scenarios of Classical Chinese Garden in Suzhou, China

Classical Gardens of Suzhou — 2025 — WHE2CF0173390

Classical Chinese gardens in Suzhou, China, demonstrate significant microclimate regulation effects through their design elements. Water bodies and lush vegetation effectively reduce air temperature and increase humidity, while architectural structures and rocks influence heat distribution and retention. This study, using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) spatial interpolation method, analyzed three representative gardens: the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, and the Canglang Pavilion. The findings highlight the role of traditional garden design principles in climate adaptability, providing valuable insights for modern urban park design and sustainable urban planning. This research underscores GIS-based spatial interpolation as a powerful tool for visualizing thermal comfort and optimizing urban green spaces.

Visualizing the Spatial Network of Cultural Heritage Based on Spatial Genes

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement — 2025 — WHECA38EA895D

A novel approach to visualizing the spatial network of cultural heritage, grounded in the concept of spatial genes, reveals the evolutionary trajectory and cultural significance of Kulangsu, a historic international settlement. By analyzing 51 core heritage elements across four dimensions—construction period, architectural function, stylistic features, and spatial layout—the study constructs time-series and spatial distribution maps that uncover the underlying characteristics of Kulangsu's transformation from an indigenous settlement to an international community. A hierarchical 'point-line-plane' identification method further demonstrates the integrity and diversity of its heritage network, encapsulating historical, social, and cultural values. This multi-dimensional visualization not only elucidates Kulangsu's historical evolution but also provides a robust framework for future heritage conservation and revitalization efforts.

Visualizing the Spirit Consciousness: Reinterpreting the Medicine Buddha Tableau in Mogao Cave 220 (642 CE)

Mogao Caves — 2025 — WHE350111A589

A groundbreaking interpretation of the Medicine Buddha tableau in Mogao Cave 220 (642 CE) reveals that Buddhist art from the early Tang dynasty visually encoded states of consciousness and spiritual transformations, particularly those of the transmigrating spirit consciousness (shenshi). The study suggests that lighting devices, dancers, and bodhisattvas were strategically integrated to depict this intangible entity, bridging physical objects with spiritual representations. This approach offers a novel cognitive framework for understanding Buddhist murals as visual expressions of ritualistic transformations, advancing the interpretation of Mogao Cave 220's pictorial program.

Wabanbara ringtailensis —a new chelid turtle (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from mid-Miocene deposits of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Australia

Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte) — 2025 — WHEC196997BFB

Researchers have identified a new genus and species of chelid turtle, Wabanbara ringtailensis, from mid-Miocene deposits at the Ringtail Site within Australia's Riversleigh World Heritage Area. This discovery is notable for its unique skull morphology, which combines features not seen in modern Australian short-necked or long-necked chelids, suggesting an aquatic omnivore with potential gape-suction feeding behavior. The fossilized skull exhibits distinctive traits such as a long, broad trochlear process and posteriorly extended squamosal, among others. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Wabanbara ringtailensis represents an early diverging member of the chelid radiation in Australia, possibly closely related to another extinct Miocene taxon, Birlimarr gaffneyi. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history and ecological adaptations of fossil turtles in Australia.