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Blueprint for Blue Carbon: Lessons from Seychelles for Small Island States

Aldabra Atoll — 2024 — WHEA6A055FE95

Seychelles' blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrasses, hold significant potential for climate change mitigation as small island developing states (SIDS) seek to leverage nature-based solutions. Dominated by mangroves (2195 ha, 80% in Aldabra Atoll) and extensive seagrass beds (142,065 ha), these ecosystems could contribute substantially to national climate commitments while providing multiple ecosystem services. However, threats such as rising sea levels, coastal squeeze, erosion, severe storms, and human activities pose risks to their stability. The study highlights the need for robust carbon inventories, continuous monitoring, and policy frameworks to ensure accurate accounting, sustainable financing, and long-term protection. Insights from Seychelles offer a blueprint for SIDS to integrate blue carbon into climate strategies while addressing challenges related to ownership rights, certification, and market dynamics post-COP27.

Body Ornamentation in Pre-Columbian America

Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas — 2024 — WHEF638D5BD49

Pre-Columbian societies used the human body as a canvas for artistic expression, with body ornamentation serving as a subtle yet powerful means of communication. The Cueva de las Manos in Patagonia, dated to 9300 CE, provides one of the earliest examples of this practice, showcasing red and black hand stencils that mark the beginnings of an artistic language. Beyond mere decoration, body modifications—such as tattooing, piercing, or scarification—reflected cultural symbols, social hierarchies, and personal identity. Research suggests these practices were not only aesthetic but also deeply symbolic, allowing individuals to convey complex emotions or affiliations that words could not express. The study highlights the universal human tendency to transform the body, whether through adornment or physical alteration, as a reflection of societal values and cultural narratives.

Bom Jesus do Monte, Sameiroy el patrimonio histórico - arqueológico en Braga (Norte de Portugal)

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga — 2024 — WHE459C8A95F4

A notable anthropological analysis reveals the deep symbolic significance of Bom Jesus do Monte and Sameiro, two prominent Baroque sanctuaries perched on hills overlooking Braga, Portugal. These sites, rooted in a landscape with prehistoric sacred associations—particularly linked to Celtic traditions—embody a continuity from ancient to modern religious heritage. The study contextualizes these sanctuaries within the broader tradition of 'monte' (mountain) sanctuaries in northern Portugal, highlighting their architectural and cultural importance as part of Braga's rich historical and archaeological legacy. By examining their symbolic dimensions and historical evolution, the research underscores how these sites reflect the intersection of religious practice, landscape reverence, and regional identity.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Density and Distribution in Central Africa's Largest Rainforest Reserve: Long-term Survey Data Show Pitfalls in Methodological Approaches and Call for Vigilance

Salonga National Park — 2024 — WHED5E43B303A

Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, stands as a critical stronghold for bonobos (Pan paniscus), potentially housing between 8,244 and 18,308 mature individuals with an estimated density of 0.31 individuals per km². A long-term study spanning 2002 to 2018, involving 8,310 km of transect walks and 27,045 days of camera trapping across ~42,000 km²—representing about 27% of bonobo-suitable habitat—revealed non-significant population decline but underscored the park's importance. The study highlighted methodological discrepancies: nest counts yielded lower density estimates in areas with Marantaceae understorey and farther from rivers, while camera traps provided higher estimates in regions with lower human presence. Bonobos were rarer near villages but more abundant in dense forest cover and proximity to ranger posts. These findings emphasize the need for continued vigilance and monitoring to preserve this biologically and culturally significant site.

Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system

Venice and its Lagoon — 2024 — WHE50BC18BE84

A cost-benefit analysis reveals that the economic benefits of Venice's MoSE flood protection system significantly outweigh its operational costs, even under projected sea-level rise scenarios. However, increasing barrier closures due to rising water levels threaten the long-term viability of the infrastructure and may adversely affect the lagoon's ecosystem. The study suggests raising the official closure threshold from 110 cm and integrating additional safeguarding measures, such as sewer system improvements, to mitigate these risks. Researchers used a system dynamics model to simulate impacts on economic and residential activities in Venice and its port until 2100, considering two sea-level rise scenarios.

Boosting intellectual capital and digital maturity of SMEs: an investigation of enterprises in an Italian Southern tourist district

Costiera Amalfitana — 2024 — WHED09FE633A2

A significant correlation exists between intellectual capital and digital maturity among SMEs in the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast Tourist District, Italy. The study identifies that data-driven leadership styles enhance innovation, while components of intellectual capital—such as decision-making competences, management style, and business networks—differentially influence digital maturity. This finding provides actionable insights for SMEs to strategically adopt digital transitions, with broader implications for policymakers and regional competitiveness. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative focus groups with quantitative structured interviews and logistic regression analysis across 94 companies, offering a nuanced understanding of the digital landscape in this context.

Botany of the Valley of Flowers National Park and its Environs

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks — 2024 — WHE1221AF5D80

A comprehensive inventory of plant species in the Valley of Flowers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Garhwal Himalayas, reveals a rich botanical diversity with detailed documentation of flowering times, altitude ranges, vegetation habits, climate, and topography. The study identifies rare plants deserving conservation efforts, contributing critical data for biodiversity preservation. By systematically cataloging flora across varying environmental conditions, this research provides foundational insights into the ecological dynamics of one of India's most ecologically significant regions.

Brick Bc

Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan — 2024 — WHE145D9AB55C

Archaeological evidence from Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan reveals the use of sun-dried mud bricks dating back at least 10,000 years, marking one of the earliest known instances of brick construction. Excavated specimens display distinct Neolithic hand marks, providing tangible proof of early human engineering techniques in what is believed to be the world's oldest continuously inhabited town. The study highlights the significance of these findings in understanding prehistoric architectural practices and the development of settled communities.

Bricks

Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan — 2024 — WHE691EC28701

A comprehensive exploration of the history and significance of bricks, from ancient sun-dried mud bricks found in Jericho—likely the oldest town in the world—to modern brickmaking techniques. The study traces the evolution of brick manufacturing in Europe and America, with a focus on Britain up to the 1970s, highlighting unique properties such as those of the fletton brick. It examines the equipment, techniques, and labor involved in brick production, as well as their applications in diverse structures like garden walls, sewers, canals, railways, roads, and notable buildings such as Hampton Court and Regent’s Park terraces. The research provides a detailed account of brickmaking's cultural, architectural, engineering, and chemical significance.

Brickwork in Norway: tradition encounters a new age of industrial construction, 1905–1912

Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site — 2024 — WHEE52466B3C6

A rapid shift from timber frames with brick infill to all-brick and steel-reinforced structures between 1905 and 1912 at the Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site reflects global industrial construction trends. The study identifies three evolutionary phases in building systems, highlighting the incorporation of concealed embedded steel—prone to corrosion—that poses long-term structural risks. While the site's remote mountain location might suggest isolation, the technology used aligns with international advancements, placing it within a broader context of architectural and engineering history. This case study provides an initial typology of construction methods and underscores the need for further material analysis to inform conservation efforts.

Bridging the gap between Quebec and Newfoundland: new insights on the protracted and diachronic history of the Anticosti foreland basin

Anticosti — 2024 — WHE2665C73676

A new study reveals significant stratigraphic and tectonic variability along the Anticosti foreland basin, bridging Quebec and Newfoundland. The research identifies a thick post-Llandovery sedimentary succession (∼2 km) in two regional synclines, with youngest sediments correlating to the Upper Gaspé Sandstone Group–Red Island Road Formation (Emsian–Eifelian). Post-Eifelian deformation is characterized by folds ranging from 2–10 km in wavelength, with newly recognized northwest-striking faults exhibiting syn- to post-Middle Mississippian movements. The southern boundary of the basin is linked to an unconformity or poorly documented east-southeast to northeast-striking faults. Magnetic and seismic data were used to map rock units, distinguishing igneous dykes from sedimentary markers by their higher amplitude and geometry. This study enhances our understanding of the basin's complex history.

Brunhes to burials – loess region of Krems, Lower Austria

Wachau Cultural Landscape — 2024 — WHE5D2FEDB4A6

Recent reinvestigation of loess-paleosol sequences (LPSs) in the Krems region, Lower Austria, has uncovered complex stratigraphic records spanning the Middle to Late Pleistocene (Brunhes). These sequences, characterized by discontinuities and polygenetic units, provide critical insights into the Quaternary geological history of the Wachau Cultural Landscape. The study revisits type localities such as Paudorf, Göttweig-Furth, and Krems-Schießstätte, which were pivotal in Quaternary research until the 1970s. The findings highlight the region's significance for understanding paleoenvironmental changes and human occupation during this period, including notable Upper Paleolithic artifacts like the Venus of Willendorf and Wachtberg infant burials.

Buddhist heritage landscape evolution of Mount Wutai: a path dependence approach

Mount Wutai — 2024 — WHE6CCC7916FF

Path dependence analysis reveals how self-reinforcing sequences shape the evolution of Buddhist heritage landscapes, offering a toolkit to steer their development toward desired outcomes. The study applies this framework to Mount Wutai's landscape, demonstrating its utility for long-term cultural preservation and sustainable management. By examining institutional genesis, reproduction, and change over millennia, researchers identify key mechanisms that influence landscape trajectories, providing actionable insights for heritage conservation.

Buddhist Pilgrimage and Living Religious Heritage in North India

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya — 2024 — WHE0EFF5A1636

Buddhist pilgrimage, particularly at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya, serves as a living memory that embeds and diffuses the spiritual biography of the Buddha, playing a crucial role in Buddhist practice. The study reveals how these sacred spaces support a moral geography, shaping aspirations for those on the path to nirvana. By integrating insights from new materialism, it demonstrates the convergence of materiality and meaning at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting how Buddhist rituals intersect with heritage formations at both national and global scales. This research underscores the sensory, performative, and affective dimensions of place in Buddhist pilgrimage.

Building Episcopal Authority in Medieval Castile: The Bishops of the Diocese of Burgos (11th–13th Centuries)

Burgos Cathedral — 2024 — WHEEFCF79F1EE

The consolidation of episcopal authority in the Diocese of Burgos, central to the Kingdom of León's eastern region (modern-day Castile), was achieved through strategic territorial delimitation and recovery of jurisdictional rights from powerful Benedictine monasteries and lay figures between the 11th and 13th centuries. This study identifies three key periods: defining diocesan boundaries, reclaiming lost churches and ecclesiastic taxes, and asserting hierarchical dominance over other diocesan potestates. Bishops employed tactics such as dispute-resolution agreements, integrating abbots into the cathedral chapter, and property acquisitions to solidify their power. The research highlights how monarchs leveraged Burgos—a pivotal pre-urban settlement—as a unified episcopal seat, marking a significant shift from the fragmented Visigothic structure disrupted by Islamic invasions.

Building insights : craft, collective care, and architectural theoria in an itinerant workshop

Zagori Cultural Landscape — 2024 — WHE26682C8BDB

A resurgent interest in traditional crafts can enrich architectural theory by incorporating tacit knowledge—forms of understanding tied to bodily skill, practical experience, and cultural context. This study demonstrates how the Boulouki Itinerant Workshop's projects, focusing on reconstructing dry stone paths (kalderimia) and vernacular structures in remote Greek regions like Zagori and Therasia, bridge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary landscape care. By analyzing participatory engagements through reflective practice and thick description, the research reveals that such projects not only preserve cultural memory but also highlight more-than-human agency in architecture. The findings suggest that an architectural theory sensitive to tacit knowledge must integrate these dual discourses to deepen collective understanding.

Building Semantic Segmentation Using UNet Convolutional Network on SpaceNet Public Data Sets for Monitoring Surrounding Area of Chan Chan (Peru)

Chan Chan Archaeological Zone — 2024 — WHE344A549D1C

A novel approach leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and remote-sensing (RS) techniques demonstrates high accuracy in monitoring damage to archaeological sites, achieving around 70% performance in building footprint segmentation. The study focuses on the Chan Chan Archaeological Zone in Peru, utilizing a UNet convolutional network with an EfficientNet encoder trained on public SpaceNet datasets derived from WV2 and WV3 satellite images. Pre-processing equalization of images improved quality and mitigated overfitting, while high-resolution images from Google Earth Pro were used for segmentation analysis. This methodology aims to assist in drafting monitoring and conservation protocols to prevent future disasters, addressing challenges posed by urban growth, seismic events, and ecosystem deterioration.

Building the city of the dead: Bath and burial reforms, 1820–1860

City of Bath — 2024 — WHE8D8B10FC79

Victorian cities, including Bath, underwent significant changes in burial practices between 1820 and 1860, transitioning from churchyards to secular cemeteries with government-mandated rules. This shift was driven by complex interactions among entrepreneurs, public health reformers, and the Anglican clergy, leading to a series of compromises that shaped the 'cities of the dead.' The study reveals how these reforms influenced citizenship of the deceased, providing insights into Victorian social history. By analyzing networks of stakeholders and their discourses, the research highlights the secondary agency of the deceased in structuring urban burial landscapes.

Bursa/Cumalıkızık Evlerinde Kapı Halka, Tokmak ve Aynaları

Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire — 2024 — WHE9EA328BB8E

Research on Cumalıkızık, a UNESCO-listed Ottoman village, reveals that its door rings and knockers—key architectural elements—reflect a blend of European influences and local adaptations. The study analyzed 66 rings and 40 knockers from 135 houses, categorizing them into distinct types based on shape (circular for rings, C/U/L-shaped for knockers) and decorative motifs. Notably, many knockers feature inscriptions like 'Allah' or 'Maşallah,' suggesting religious symbolism. These elements, predominantly dating to the 19th century, demonstrate a tradition that transitioned from imported European designs to locally adapted forms, preserving Ottoman craftsmanship.

Bush fires of central highlands of Sri Lanka: What is the triple bottom line

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka — 2024 — WHE99C984A45B

Bushfires in Sri Lanka's central highlands, driven by climate patterns and introduced flammable vegetation, pose significant social, economic, and environmental threats. These fires, often sparked by human activity such as agricultural practices or negligence, are increasing in frequency and severity, leading to irreversible ecosystem damage. A study focusing on high-risk areas like Haldummulla and Imbulpe divisions revealed limited community adaptation strategies and a lack of resilient infrastructure, including early warning systems. The research employed mixed methods, including participatory approaches like transect walks and focus group discussions, to assess community vulnerability and preparedness. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated sustainability measures to mitigate bushfire impacts on these critical catchment areas.