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Publications

Showing 341 – 360 of 15962 publications

Digital Technology in the Conservation of Architectural Heritage in the Historic Centre of Macao Research Hot Spots and Prospects

Historic Centre of Macao — 2026 — WHE785F66B187

A systematic framework leveraging digital technologies such as 3D laser scanning, HBIM (Heritage Building Information Modeling), and VR (Virtual Reality) has been developed to enhance the efficiency, precision, and accessibility of architectural heritage conservation in Macao's Historic Centre. Focusing on Tsz Lam Wai as a case study, this research demonstrates how these advanced tools address critical challenges in data acquisition, modeling, visualization, and management. A quantitative literature analysis using CiteSpace further identifies global trends and local gaps in digital heritage preservation, offering actionable insights for broader implementation across UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Digital Twins as Heritage Infrastructure

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor — 2026 — WHE46AFFC4D3F

Digital twin technologies emerge as transformative heritage infrastructures, enabling precise monitoring, intelligent prevention, and dynamic communication for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. By synthesizing multisource sensing, refined modeling, and high-fidelity mapping, these systems create Cultural Heritage Information Models (CHIMs) and Communication Management Information Systems (CMIS), supporting real-time diagnostics, simulations, and predictive analytics. A triadic interactive model—reality space, virtual space, and cognitive space—serves as the conceptual foundation, facilitating AI-assisted virtual restoration, microclimate simulation, and immersive public engagement. Case studies from China, including the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, demonstrate how digital twins address diverse heritage challenges, from underground archaeology to fragile cave art, reshaping conservation through participatory and sustainable management.

Dining at the Great Settlement Shang: Everyday meals, ordinary people, and urbanism at Yinxu, Late Shang China (ca. 1250–1046 BCE)

Yin Xu — 2026 — WHE5F56375284

A millet-centric agricultural system, rather than crop diversification, ensured food stability during the Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BCE) at Yinxu, the capital of the Shang state. This finding challenges traditional assumptions about urbanization in ancient China and highlights the role of agricultural intensification in supporting population growth. The study, using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on human skeletal tissues, reveals significant dietary variations among sub-adults and craft specialists, offering new insights into social identity formation at the neighborhood level. Unlike previous research focused on elite narratives, this work centers on everyday food practices, demonstrating how diet shaped social distinctions in urban settings.

Disaster history of the Prambanan temple complex (Java, Indonesia) – an archaeoseismological study

Prambanan Temple Compounds — 2026 — WHED1AA2A4C8B

Researchers have uncovered evidence of two devastating earthquakes that struck the Prambanan Temple Complex in Java, Indonesia, with intensities reaching IX+ on the Mercalli scale. By analyzing structural damage from collapses in 1584 and 2006, archaeoseismology revealed recurring seismic events in a region previously considered a seismic gap. The study identified a consistent stress direction (30°-210°) parallel to the causative fault's strike, providing new insights into past earthquake parameters in Southeast Asia. This groundbreaking approach combines historical data with structural analysis to reconstruct disaster history over 1200 years.

Discovering the mesophotic fauna of Malpelo Ridge: biodiversity insights in a remote marine sanctuary

Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary — 2026 — WHE4C70D9A775

A recent study reveals that Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary harbors significantly higher fish biomass in its mesophotic ecosystems (30-150 m depth) than previously estimated. The research, conducted during the 2025 Mesophotic Scientific Expedition, identified six new fish species for the sanctuary, including olive grouper and misty grouper, suggesting deeper reef-associated habitats support substantial biodiversity. Additionally, the study documented 64 benthic megafaunal taxa and 33 fish taxa using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys and scientific diving, with over 90% of macrobenthic records representing new species for the region. The dataset, compliant with international standards, provides baseline information on mesophotic biodiversity in the Colombian Pacific, contributing to global repositories like OBIS and GBIF.

Discovery of a new species of Coendou (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) within the hyper-diverse mammalian community of Sangay National Park in Ecuador

Sangay National Park — 2026 — WHE3987CF7838

Researchers have identified a new species of porcupine, Coendou sangay, within the highly diverse mammalian community of Sangay National Park in Ecuador. This discovery was made through extensive fieldwork spanning 15 years, involving 12,800 trap-nights and 2,400 camera-trap days. The new species is characterized by its medium body size, short tail (approximately 26% of head-and-body length), tricolored bristle-quills with brownish-red tips, and distinct cranial features. Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial Cytochrome b data revealed significant genetic divergence from its closest congeners, confirming it as a distinct lineage within Clade B. Notably, only one specimen was found, suggesting that Coendou sangay is a rare, canopy-dwelling specialist. The study also highlights Sangay National Park's remarkable mammal diversity, with 170 species recorded, including 18 endemic and 35 threatened taxa. This research underscores the importance of long-term, intensive inventories in uncovering cryptic arboreal lineages and emphasizes the urgent need for conservation measures to protect this high-elevation biodiversity hotspot.

Disseminating Cultural Tapestry of Khangchendzonga National Park through Co-curation

Khangchendzonga National Park — 2026 — WHE9E52591862

Khangchendzonga National Park, India's first UNESCO mixed World Heritage Site, is renowned for its ecological diversity. However, its cultural richness—embodied by the indigenous Lepcha and Bhutia communities' sacred landscapes, mythological tales, oral traditions, and spiritual practices—remains underrepresented in tourism narratives. This study demonstrates how co-curation can serve as a collaborative approach to define, interpret, sustain, and represent these cultural narratives, bridging the gap between local communities and visitors. Focusing on Yuksom (buffer zone) and Goechala Trek Route (core area), it explores the potential of an Interpretation Centre at Yuksom's entry gate to disseminate the park's cultural value effectively. The research highlights both the benefits and challenges of co-curation, offering a unique framework for integrating cultural heritage into conservation efforts.

Distribution of archaeological material along the ancient Tsondab River through the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia

Namib Sand Sea — 2026 — WHE1CED43CB4D

A 2024 survey along the ancient Tsondab River in Namibia's Namib Sand Sea revealed Middle Stone Age (MSA) artefacts across nearly its entire east-west expanse, challenging assumptions about human habitation and subsistence in arid landscapes. The study documented MSA tools in interdune pans, suggesting deep-time exploitation of this relict fluvial landscape. While Earlier Stone Age (ESA) artefacts were absent, the findings imply that the region supported diverse floral and faunal communities during the Pleistocene, offering indirect evidence for environmental changes over time. By combining archaeological surveys with geoarchaeological and geomorphological analyses, researchers aim to clarify the timing of water presence along this former river course and its implications for early human movement in a challenging environment.

Diversity and biogeographic patterns of non-volant small mammals in Afrotropical montane rainforests in Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park — 2026 — WHEB9C79F1139

A comprehensive study of non-volant small mammals in Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda, reveals 25 species, including a new record for the region and country: Lophuromys cinereus. The research, employing standardized live-trapping and DNA analysis—a first for this area—confirms most previously documented species while providing insights into their diversity and distribution across Afromontane rainforests. Seasonality showed minimal impact on community composition, but all species found in the smaller Cyamudongo forest fragment were also present in NNP's main block. The study underscores gaps in understanding biogeographic and ecological factors influencing these mammals and advocates for their inclusion in ecosystem dynamics monitoring and park management plans to better demonstrate Afromontane biodiversity.

Diversity and Biogeographical Affinities of Edible Frogs in the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Western Côte d'Ivoire

Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve — 2026 — WHEE855775568

A survey of edible frogs in the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire, revealed 15 species across six families, with Ptychadenidae being the most diverse. The study found significant spatial variation in species richness and abundance, with transects T6 and T2 showing the highest diversity and population counts. Most species were classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though three were Data Deficient and one, Odontobatrachus arndti, was Near Threatened. Biogeographical analysis indicated a strong affiliation with the western Upper Guinea region. The findings underscore the importance of habitat-sensitive management to sustain edible frog populations in this ecologically sensitive protected area.

Diversity and Spatiotemporal Activity Patterns of Medium and Large Mammals in the Niokolo‐Koba National Park, Senegal

Niokolo-Koba National Park — 2026 — WHEE576EFFCBD

A study of Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal reveals that savannah habitats support higher evenness in species abundance distribution compared to forest habitats, despite comparable overall species richness. Using 37 camera traps deployed over 13,080 days, researchers analyzed the spatiotemporal activity patterns of medium and large mammals, finding that these patterns align with known species-specific behaviors. The study also highlights differential habitat use throughout the day, likely driven by spatial segregation between sleeping and foraging sites. These findings underscore the ecological significance of the park's forest-savannah mosaic and provide a baseline for future monitoring efforts in this understudied West African ecosystem.

Diversity of Fishery Resources in Mangrove Ecosystems: Case of Saloum Delta in Senegal

Saloum Delta — 2026 — WHEC055154226

A significant decline in fishery resources within the Saloum Delta, Senegal, has been attributed to overexploitation, habitat degradation, and climate change. The study, conducted from 2020 to 2022, recorded a decrease in species richness and abundance, with biomass dropping from 11.81±11.54kg in 2020 to 3.97±2.36kg in 2022. Fish length also decreased significantly over the study period, indicating worsening conditions for marine life. The research used beach seine catches at six sites within the Gandoule Marine Protected Area, identifying 58 species with notable spatio-temporal variations in diversity and biomass.

Diversity of the Genus Xylaria in European Atlantic Lauroid Forest: New Records and Description of Eight New Species

Laurisilva of Madeira — 2026 — WHE42C99275D2

A recent study reveals that European Atlantic laurel forests, including both insular and continental regions, harbor significantly higher diversity of the fungal genus Xylaria (Xylariaceae) than previously recognized. By analyzing over 80 collections from Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and mainland Iberia, researchers identified at least 13 species, eight of which are newly described. The study employed an integrative approach combining morphological observations with multilocus phylogenetic analyses using ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TUB2 loci to resolve species boundaries, particularly in morphologically cryptic lineages. This research underscores the importance of these ecosystems as reservoirs of fungal diversity and evolutionary novelty, contributing to our understanding of Xylaria's global distribution and biodiversity.

Documentación de Tomás Luis de Victoria en la catedral de León (1591-1602)

León Cathedral — 2026 — WHE33F6AB4B31

A rare glimpse into the administrative and musical legacy of Tomás Luis de Victoria at León Cathedral (1591–1602) emerges from transcribed chapter agreements and a surviving inventory of chant books. The documents reveal not only Victoria’s role in curating liturgical music but also her proactive management of cathedral musicians, including hiring practices—a dimension rarely documented for Renaissance composers. By analyzing these primary sources, researchers uncover how institutional policies shaped the preservation and dissemination of sacred polyphony during the Spanish Golden Age.

Does vineyard abandonment negatively affect the taxonomic and functional diversity of ground-dwelling beetles?

Upper Middle Rhine Valley — 2026 — WHE48311CC8CF

Conventionally managed vineyards and grazed grasslands in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley support higher taxonomic and functional diversity of ground-dwelling beetles compared to set-aside fallows, which show significantly reduced conservation value. The study, conducted across 40 sites using pitfall traps, reveals that abandonment leads to declines in open landscape and xerothermic beetle species, while (semi)-natural habitats positively influence beetle diversity. Grazing emerges as a viable alternative management strategy to maintain biodiversity in set-aside vineyards, counteracting secondary succession and preserving landscape heterogeneity. These findings underscore the importance of active land management in conserving insect diversity in xerothermic regions.

Dois jesuítas no chaco

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) — 2026 — WHE6FDE8BCC27

Two Jesuit missionaries, Florian Paucke and Martin Dobrizhoffer, left distinct yet parallel accounts of their experiences in the Chaco region during the 18th century. Their works—'Hacia allá y para acá' by Paucke and 'Historia de los Abipones' by Dobrizhoffer—offer divergent representations of Amerindian life, daily mission activities, and the natural environment, as well as differing perspectives on their forced exile following the 1767 Pragmatic Sanction. This study analyzes these narratives to uncover contrasting views on cultural encounters, missionary life, and the impact of political upheaval on both missionaries and indigenous communities.

Domestic tourists’ memorable experiences, destination image and revisit intention at Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam

Hoi An Ancient Town — 2026 — WHE152A5AE205

Memorable tourism experiences (MTE) significantly boost destination image and revisit intention among domestic tourists at Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam. This study, the first to empirically link MTE with tourist behavior in heritage destinations of developing countries, found that MTE has the strongest direct effect on revisit intention, while destination image acts as a partial mediator. Using structural equation modeling on survey data from 234 domestic tourists, the research highlights the importance of designing memory-rich experiences for heritage tourism. While cross-sectional, the findings provide actionable insights for site managers to enhance visitor retention and repeat visits.

Dövlət Tarix-Mədəniyyət və Təbiət Qor 걸larının Qlobal Səviyyədə Turizm Cəlbediciliyinin Artırılması İstiqamətləri

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHECC91B464A8

Azerbaijan's state historical-cultural and natural reserves, including Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, hold significant global tourist potential. The study reveals that these sites, such as Yanardag, Gobustan, and Hyrkan, are pivotal for ecotourism and cultural tourism, attracting both national and international attention. Successful strategies like virtual tours in Gobustan and ecotourism development in Hyrkan have boosted their appeal. However, challenges like inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, climate change, and anthropogenic impacts hinder full potential realization. The research suggests that strengthening state-private cooperation, expanding international partnerships, and implementing sustainable tourism strategies can enhance these sites' tourist attractiveness while preserving national heritage.

Drehberg Olympic Games: An Overlooked Phenomenon in Cultural and Sports Heritage Tourism of the Dessau-Wörlitz Region

Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz — 2026 — WHE6D7BADA144

A long-forgotten tradition of the Drehberg Olympic Games, a pre-modern sporting event held annually in 18th-century Germany, has been revived after nearly two centuries. This study reveals a significant gap between the cultural importance of this heritage phenomenon and its minimal representation in tourism discourse within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm. Through archival research, interviews, field visits, and content analysis, the research highlights Drehberg's untapped potential as a heritage tourism destination, integrating sport, education, history, and local identity. The findings emphasize the need for re-evaluating promotional strategies to better position Drehberg within the region's cultural and touristic landscape.

Drivers of Religious Tourism in Nigeria: Spiritual and Secular Reasons

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove — 2026 — WHE484266C2B7

Religious tourism in Nigeria, particularly at sites like the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and Olokun Temple, is primarily driven by secular motivations such as knowledge acquisition and cultural inquiry rather than spiritual devotion. Unlike global religious pilgrimage destinations such as Jerusalem or Mecca, where spirituality is a dominant factor, Nigerian tourists—predominantly adherents of Islam or Christianity—often view active participation in local rituals as unnecessary. This study, conducted through key informant interviews at these sites, reveals that mundane reasons overshadow spiritual ones, offering a distinct contrast to traditional religious tourism patterns.