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Publications

Showing 21 – 40 of 15962 publications

A Festival For Locals or For Tourists? The Ritual Year in Three Southeastern Lithuanian Settlements

Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) — 2026 — WHE916550579D

Newly created commercial holidays often fail to resonate with local populations unless they are deeply rooted in meaningful historical or cultural significance. This study analyzes the ritual year in three southeastern Lithuanian settlements—Trakai, Kernavė, and Medininkai—focusing on how locals perceive commercialized festivals. Through ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2017 and 2019, researchers examined the duration, seasonality, and local appreciation of holidays, including St. John’s Day and State Day (marking the coronation of the first Lithuanian king). The findings reveal that even well-promoted commercial holidays, despite their cultural heritage mobilization and seasonal timing, may not gain local acceptance without strong ties to specific dates of historical or symbolic value.

A first case of Hepatozoon infection in a wild Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) in Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2026 — WHE05E0AE97F7

Researchers have documented the first confirmed Hepatozoon infection in an endangered Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) from Tokunoshima Island, Japan. The discovery, made through necropsy and histopathological examination, revealed meronts—asexual reproductive stages—in the rabbit's lung, heart, and skeletal muscle tissues, with no associated inflammatory response. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed these intracellular structures at various developmental stages. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses identified the protozoan as Hepatozoon sp., closely related to Hepatozoon felis. The presence of asexual stages suggests that Amami rabbits may serve as intermediate hosts rather than paratenic hosts in the parasite's life cycle. This finding underscores the need for further study into the ecology, transmission dynamics, and conservation implications of protozoan infections in endangered wildlife.

A Framework for Seismic Risk Assessments in the Buyeo Baekje Historic Areas

Baekje Historic Areas — 2026 — WHE519CD4BB1D

Historic areas, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Baekje Historic Areas in Buyeo, face significant seismic risks due to subsurface conditions that can amplify ground motion. This study introduces a quantitative index for site amplification and proposes an integrated framework for seismic risk assessment, combining seismic hazard and performance evaluations. By leveraging field seismic tests, one-dimensional site response analyses, shaking table tests, centrifuge models, finite element method (FEM), and discrete element method (DEM) simulations, researchers mapped regional susceptibility to resonance at short periods. The findings highlight that while these methodologies serve distinct roles, their integration effectively reduces uncertainty in assessing seismic risks for heritage structures, offering a robust approach for preserving culturally significant sites.

A gated-attention multi-prior injection diffusion model for Huashan rock art image restoration

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE907BEE156D

A novel gated-attention multi-prior injection diffusion model significantly advances the restoration of weathered rock art at Zuojiang Huashan, achieving superior performance metrics (MSE: 0.021, MAE: 0.093, PSNR: 26.73, SSIM: 0.892) compared to baseline methods. The model's dual-branch prior extraction and gate attention fusion modules effectively reconstruct structural contours and texture details in degraded regions, with statistically significant improvements verified through ablation studies. This approach offers a promising solution for preserving cultural heritage by addressing fading, loss, and texture degradation caused by environmental factors and human disturbances.

A Global Analysis of Ethical Practices and Visitor Motivation in Sites of Death and Disaster

Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) — 2026 — WHEE0547720FC

Dark tourism, which involves visiting sites linked to death and tragedy, can be made more ethical and sustainable through the Sustainable Engagement Model. This model integrates Thanatourism, Postmemory Theory, and Emotional Geography to guide visitor experiences while preserving collective memory and fostering empathy. A global analysis of four international sites—Auschwitz Birkenau, Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Ground Zero (9/11 Memorial), and Rwanda Genocide Memorial—revealed that ethical storytelling, community involvement, and participatory design are key to meaningful engagement. These practices not only promote respectful remembrance but also strengthen global citizenship by encouraging thoughtful reflection among visitors.

A historical-index measurement framework of agentic capital, the Georgian Church, monastic knowledge networks and institutional resilience

Gelati Monastery — 2026 — WHE3C7830E683

This study reveals that the long-term resilience and institutional status of the Georgian Church stem not solely from formal structures but from a co-accumulation of agentic capital, knowledge networks, autonomy, external recognition, and post-shock recovery capacity. By constructing a historical-index dataset (AD 33–1990) coding ecclesiastical events, monastic centers, hagiographic texts, and international positioning on a 0-100 scale, the research quantifies institutional productivity through econometric models like PCA and HAC-OLS. Findings show that knowledge capital, institutional autonomy, and external recognition positively correlate with the Church's trajectory, even surviving formal disruptions (e.g., 1811, 1917, 1990). The framework bridges historical ecclesiology, institutional economics, and agentic theory, offering a methodology to transform qualitative historical data into measurable indices. This approach underscores how knowledge, agency, and resilience function as long-term productive assets in an 'agentic economy.'

A King’s Choice

Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur — 2026 — WHE3188D8F007

Senwosret III's pyramid at Dahshur marks a pivotal shift in royal funerary practices, redefining the cultural landscape of ancient Egypt. This study reveals how Senwosret III transformed the necropolis and urban zones of Memphis and the Fayum through large-scale landscape modifications, beginning with Sneferu's pre-pyramid era. By analyzing the construction, use, and eventual abandonment of his pyramid complex—alongside a rock-cut tomb at Abydos—the research traces the evolution of funerary traditions from the Old to the Middle Kingdom. The approach combines archaeological analysis with historical contextualization, offering insights into the deliberate choices that shaped Egypt's monumental heritage.

A Long Journey Defining Authenticity in World Heritage Management in Africa—Contested Realities

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove — 2026 — WHEA001F71530

A redefinition of authenticity is essential for fair and equitable World Heritage management in Africa, moving beyond static international standards to embrace dynamic, community-driven practices. This study highlights the tension between global heritage criteria—focusing on physical attributes—and African perspectives, which view heritage as a living, spiritual, and relational experience. Through case studies including the Creole Houses of Mauritius, the Island of Mozambique, Kenya’s Mijikenda Kaya Forests, and Nigeria’s Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, it argues for decolonizing authenticity by centering community governance and ritual practices. The research proposes a practical framework to align global policies with African realities, ensuring heritage is sustained as both a physical and social process.

A machine learning-enhanced virtual museum for preserving Jordanian cultural heritage: Predicting user satisfaction and engagement profiling

Wadi Rum Protected Area — 2026 — WHE4EB0125DC1

A machine learning (ML)-enhanced virtual museum for preserving Jordanian cultural heritage demonstrates that data-driven approaches can effectively predict user satisfaction and engagement, offering deeper insights than traditional descriptive statistics. The study, which reconstructed seven historically accurate 3D Bedouin costumes from Wadi Rum, Ma'an, and Petra into a VR environment, found that Logistic Regression achieved the highest accuracy (84.67%) in predicting user satisfaction, with cultural understanding, visual realism, and navigation being the strongest predictors. K-Means clustering identified three distinct user profiles, highlighting divergent interaction patterns. The research underscores the potential of ML to enhance adaptive and personalized virtual museum experiences, providing a robust framework for future heritage preservation efforts.

A Multi-Model Text Mining Approach to Tourism Image Analysis of the Historic Centre of Macao Based on User-Generated Content

Historic Centre of Macao — 2026 — WHE0FB2E5C13F

A multi-model text mining analysis of user-generated content reveals that the tourism image of Macao's Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is shaped by four key dimensions: perceptions of history and heritage value, spatial landmarks, travel behavior, and emotional evaluation. The study, which analyzed 3781 tourist reviews using TF-IDF, BERTopic, and RoBERTa models, identified 18 topics clustered into three semantic groups—heritage-space cognition, landmark experiences, and integrated tourism experiences—and highlighted positive sentiment dominance while noting issues like crowding as sources of negative feedback. This approach offers a robust framework for assessing tourism images in cultural heritage destinations.

A new and exceptional species of Breynia (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) from southwestern Thailand

Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex — 2026 — WHEAA3E529E9C

Researchers have identified a new and exceptional species of Breynia, named B. aberrans, within the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in southwestern Thailand. This discovery, supported by molecular and morphological data, places the species within the subgenus Sauropus and distinguishes it with unique features such as asperities along one-sided branches, distinct leaf blade shapes, and pistillate flowers characterized by a long-ovoid ovary, sturdy style, and three upright stigmas. Unlike other Breynia species, B. aberrans is unlikely to be pollinated by Epicephala moths, suggesting a unique reproductive strategy. The study utilized a combination of nuclear (ITS, PHYC) and chloroplast markers (matK, accD-psaI, trnS-trnG) for phylogenetic reconstruction, contributing valuable insights into the biodiversity of the Kaeng Krachan National Park.

A new genus and six new species of Namaini from the Richtersveld (South Africa, Northern Cape) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape — 2026 — WHE7878CA1F11

Scientists have discovered one new genus and six new species of Namaini weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) within the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa's Northern Cape. The newly described taxa include Richtersveldiella sanparkensis, Pentamerica gazella, Namaquania hirta, Nama mirifica, Nama vanwyki, and Nama armmanshoek. These findings contribute to the understanding of biodiversity in this unique arid ecosystem, with detailed biological notes, comparative remarks, and distribution assessments provided. The study also proposes conservation status evaluations for these species, highlighting their ecological significance.

A new species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo)

Gunung Mulu National Park — 2026 — WHE308E4BDB20

Researchers have identified a new species of frog, Leptolalax, within Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, East Malaysia (Borneo). This discovery was made through morphological analysis, distinguishing the new species from previously described ones, including Leptolalax dringi and Leptolalax gracilis. The new species exhibits unique traits such as large body size, a rounded snout, bipartite subgular vocal sac in males, and a distinctive advertisement call with high-frequency modulation (7225-9190 Hz). Additionally, it lacks supraaxillary glands and ventrolateral glandular ridges, further setting it apart. The study highlights the rich biodiversity of Gunung Mulu National Park and contributes to the understanding of amphibian diversity in Borneo.

A Newly Identified Western Wei Medicine Buddha on the East Wall of Mogao Cave 285

Mogao Caves — 2026 — WHEF0D0A7DB3A

A newly identified depiction of the Medicine Buddha, dating to the Western Wei Dynasty, has been discovered on the east wall of Mogao Cave 285. This finding predates previous records by several centuries and challenges existing chronologies of the Medicine Buddha cult in the Dunhuang region. The study employs textual, iconographic, and spatial analysis of sculptural programs and ink inscriptions to argue that two preaching scenes—one inscribed as 'Amitāyus Buddha' and another identified as the 'Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Crystal Radiance'—derive from the Guanding jing rather than Pure Land texts. This discovery revises our understanding of the artistic and textual foundations of Cave 285, underscoring the need for a reassessment of its broader cultural significance.

A Novel Discovery of Microorganisms Associated with Certain Seaweed Species from the Cat Ba Archipelago Area, Vietnam: Isolation, Identification and Exploration of Their Antimicrobial Activities

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago — 2026 — WHE3942F60F40

A novel discovery of microorganisms associated with seaweed species from the Cat Ba Archipelago, Vietnam, reveals promising antimicrobial activities. Researchers isolated 331 culturable microorganisms from nine marine macroalgal hosts, identifying 15 bacterial isolates—predominantly Bacillus species—with significant antibacterial properties. Notably, Bacillus velezensis S.002, associated with the red alga Gelidium crinale for the first time, exhibited remarkable activity against B. subtilis and X. oryzae. Its ethylacetate extract contained canonical lipopeptides alongside rare metabolites like alkaloids and a unique bioactive amino acid, suggesting synergistic antimicrobial efficacy. This study highlights Cat Ba's macroalgae as a rich source of bioactive microorganisms and compounds, offering potential for novel natural products derived from host–microbe interactions.

A people-centered approach to counter ecosystem degradation and support restoration

Sundarbans National Park — 2026 — WHEA226165254

A people-centered approach is critical to countering ecosystem degradation and supporting restoration efforts, particularly in globally significant yet fragile ecosystems like the Sundarbans mangrove forest. This PhD thesis highlights that local perceptions of landscape values—such as material (e.g., fishing, medicinal plants) and non-material (e.g., aesthetic, spiritual)—shape place identity, attachment, and dependence among communities. It identifies overharvesting and mangrove loss as primary drivers of degradation, while strong patrolling emerges as a key restoration measure. Spatial analysis reveals that threats like extreme weather and economic pressures disproportionately affect forest-dependent groups, who exhibit higher engagement with landscape values. The study also links human-nature connections (HNCs) to successful restoration, drawing parallels between the Sundarbans and the European Union's Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). These insights underscore the importance of integrating social-ecological dynamics into conservation strategies to achieve sustainable outcomes.

A Perfect Fit for the Indigenous “Slot”? Batwa Identity Politics Meets Global Advocacy Agendas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Kahuzi-Biega National Park — 2026 — WHEF90A090DA2

Indigenous rights activism, while aiming to support marginalized communities, can inadvertently obscure local complexities. In Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Batwa people are often portrayed as the ultimate guardians of their ancestral forests, resisting 'fortress conservation.' However, this global advocacy narrative overlooks internal frictions within Batwa groups and tensions with other social groups and the environment. The study reveals that strategic adoption of an Indigenous identity by some Batwa chiefs clashes with messy local realities, highlighting unintended consequences when global agendas meet localized contexts.

A Preliminary Study on the Comparison between the Petroglyphs of Temiya and Fugoppe Caves in Japan and the Petroglyphs of Tanbaly in Kazakhstan

Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of Tanbaly — 2026 — WHEC3B0512F7C

A comparative analysis of petroglyphs from Temiya and Fugoppe Caves in Japan with those of Tanbaly in Kazakhstan reveals shared motifs, including human figures, animals, fish, and shamans, despite geographical and cultural differences. While both regions depict similar themes, Tanbaly's inland location explains the absence of boat representations found in Japan, and its diverse animal imagery reflects local ecological conditions. Differences in shamanic symbols suggest varying spiritual practices. The study highlights how rock art serves as a reflection of subsistence practices shaped by geography and environmental context, offering insights into prehistoric cultural adaptations.

A Princely Portrait in Sophia of Kyiv in the Patch of History: Secular Story and Liturgical Context

Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — 2026 — WHED60694FA9C

A significant reevaluation of the princely family portrait in Saint Sophia of Kyiv reveals that it originally depicted Vladimir the Great and his wife, along with their children, rather than Yaroslav the Wise as previously thought. This conclusion stems from historical evidence showing that Yaroslav's children were not yet born when the cathedral was built (1011–1018). The fresco, the largest in the cathedral, portrays a liturgical procession toward the altar throne, symbolizing Vladimir’s role as the Baptizer of Rus’. The portrait includes figures of Boris, Gleb, Theophano, Premislava, Agatha, and Maria-Dobroniega, with Ostromir’s face repainted twice—first as Sviatopolk I in 1018 and then as Yaroslav in 1019. This research clarifies the fresco's historical context by integrating secular narratives with liturgical symbolism, offering new insights into the artistic and political dynamics of medieval Kyiv.

A quantitative classification of chorotypes for the Socotra Archipelago’s non-endemic plants

Socotra Archipelago — 2026 — WHE5923289E2B

The Socotra Archipelago's non-endemic plant flora is structured by distinct chorotypes, with the Xeric Tropical-Subtropical type dominating (13.8%), followed by Paleoarabian-Somali-Masai (10.1%) and Temperate-Subtropical Belt (9.2%). This study used ensemble modeling and clustering to classify species distributions globally and regionally, revealing a biogeographic hinge along the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden rim. Vegetation types showed varying chorological signatures, with endemic-rich woodlands and shrublands exhibiting high specialization while grasslands and halophytic communities displayed more mixed affinities. The research highlights arid corridors and monsoon-related refugia as key drivers of Socotra's flora, bridging classical chorology with quantitative vegetation analysis.