World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 421 – 440 of 15962 publications

Exploring New Conservation Methods: Isolation and Characterization of Algicidal Bacteria from Ornamental Fountains in the Alhambra and Generalife (Granada, Spain)

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada — 2026 — WHE1044A9C48E

Researchers have identified a highly effective algicidal bacterium, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain LIG25, capable of inhibiting over 98% of algal growth in ornamental fountains at the Alhambra and Generalife (Granada, Spain). This discovery offers a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical biocides for conserving cultural heritage sites vulnerable to biodeterioration. The study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize bacterial communities from eight fountain samples, revealing 18 genera with reported algicidal activity. Functional screening assays using filtered fountain waters against Chlorella vulgaris demonstrated intrinsic inhibitory capacity, with the most active sample selected for further isolation and validation through co-culture assays, cell density measurements, and PAM fluorometry. Despite detecting a diverse microbiome, no significant link was found between taxonomic composition and biofilm development, underscoring the complexity of microbial interactions in these environments.

Exploring public perception of urban heritage in Macao via user-generated content

Historic Centre of Macao — 2026 — WHE8D754A4ADF

Public perception of the Historic Centre of Macao, as reflected in user-generated content on travel and map platforms, reveals a strong positive sentiment with a focus on churches, squares, facades, gardens, walking, and photography. While this aligns primarily with UNESCO's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) criteria—particularly Criterion (iv) for material urban fabric and architectural ensembles—it also highlights concerns like crowding and commercialisation not addressed by the OUV framework. The study employed a multi-modal approach, analysing multilingual reviews using sentiment classification, semantic keyterm extraction, and an OUV alignment pipeline, alongside visual theme grouping of user-uploaded images via pretrained vision models. This method demonstrated partial overlap between textual and visual signals, offering insights that could enhance monitoring and communication for urban World Heritage sites.

Exploring the Modern Production Process of Traditional Patterns Based on Digital Design - Focusing on the Patterns of Changdeokgung Nakseonjae -

Changdeokgung Palace Complex — 2026 — WHE0513A80542

Digital design technology can standardize and adapt the aesthetic value of traditional cultural heritage, such as the patterns of Changdeokgung Palace Complex's Nakseonjae, to modern lifestyle product specifications without compromising its core identity. This study confirms that a design adaptation process based on morphological analysis allows for flexible expansion into diverse product lines while preserving traditional aesthetics. Additionally, it demonstrates how combining digital precision with traditional craftsmanship in prototype production merges the intangible qualities of digital data with the tangible nature of handcrafted materials. The research contributes to the potential transformation of preservation-focused heritage data into high-value commercial products, supporting the development of a Korean cultural ecosystem with strong identity and economic viability.

Exploring the Submerged Heritage

Fortress of Suomenlinna — 2026 — WHEB35CD1685C

Modern technologies, including multi-beam echosounders and photogrammetry, have revealed the submerged scars of past wars within the underwater landscape of Suomenlinna sea fortress. These remnants, such as deliberately placed ship hulls used as defensive obstacles during the Crimean War (1853–1856), offer a tangible connection to historical conflicts preserved in the Baltic Sea. The study highlights how these archaeological remains, despite their complex formation processes and location in active water areas, serve as enduring places of memory for past events. By integrating underwater investigation with archival records and historical narratives, researchers can reconstruct missing links that deepen our understanding of the fortress's strategic use during wartime.

Exploring the transnational-heritage assemblage: the Ara Pacis Museum and the historic city centre of Rome

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2026 — WHE70F3A9A19C

A study of the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome, designed by Richard Meier and completed in 2006, reveals how multiple heritage dimensions shape urban development within historic sites. The research applies Assemblage Theory and Actor-Network Theory to analyze the socio-material interactions influencing the project's contentious trajectory. It highlights the challenges of contextualizing modern architecture in transnational heritage assemblages, emphasizing the need for frameworks that recognize the complex interplay between human and non-human actants. This approach offers new insights into heritage conservation practices and urban planning, particularly in culturally significant areas like Rome's historic center.

Exploring visual integrity in World Cultural Heritage Site inscriptions

Mbanza Kongo, Vestiges of the Capital of the former Kingdom of Kongo — 2026 — WHE051E647335

The concept of 'visual integrity' in UNESCO World Heritage Site inscriptions perpetuates a homogenizing lens, despite its absence from official guidelines. This study reveals that the application of integrity in site evaluations is historically tied to normative aesthetics, which prioritize uniformity and unity. Analyzing two sites—Mbanza Kongo (Angola) and Writing-on-Stone (Canada)—the research demonstrates how this approach visualizes heritage through a narrow, standardized perspective, often at odds with its cultural diversity. The findings highlight the need for a more inclusive interpretation of integrity to better reflect the dynamic nature of World Heritage Sites.

Faces on the facades of Bologna, Italy

The Porticoes of Bologna — 2026 — WHE47A08C5433

Bologna, Italy's porticoes serve as a dynamic canvas for facial expressions that encode power, memory, devotion, resistance, and consumerist desire. The study reveals how these faces, found across institutional and vernacular contexts, create a distinctive urban semiotics through their spatial density and typological distribution. Unlike numerical censuses, this qualitative analysis leverages fieldwork and semiotic methods to demonstrate the fluid negotiation of meaning between urban centers and peripheries. Walking itself emerges as a hermeneutic practice, embodying the city's visual ecology. This research positions Bologna as a paradigmatic model for studying facial semiotics in European cities.

Feature-Enhanced Visualization of 3D Point Clouds of Cultural Heritage in Transparent Virtual Reality

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range — 2026 — WHE4E7DBC5AD1

A transparent virtual reality (VR) visualization system significantly enhances the structural analysis of 3D point clouds from historic architecture, addressing limitations in conventional VR rendering. The study, focusing on Tamaki Shrine—a UNESCO World Heritage site—demonstrates that combining feature enhancement with opacity control improves visibility of internal depth relationships and point-density variations, particularly in complex wooden structures. Researchers achieved this by processing large-scale point cloud data using Poisson disk sampling for real-time optimization, followed by principal component analysis (PCA) to quantify structural salience. A custom alpha-blending shader in Unity enabled two visualization modes: binarization for sharp edges and opacity gradation for soft-edge regions. Tested with a Meta Quest Pro, the system offers distinct viewing modes that facilitate deeper structural understanding than traditional rendering methods.

Features of Modern-Period Stone Pagodas ; Focusing on Comparison with Stonework at Tombs of Kings and Scholar-Gentry

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty — 2026 — WHEA8BFD7D271

Modern-period stone pagodas (late 19th to early 20th century) in Korea, often dismissed as Japanese colonial artifacts due to their perceived stylistic divergence and decline in quality, are shown to be deeply rooted in Korea’s indigenous stone tradition. This study challenges the prevailing narrative by demonstrating that these pagodas evolved through interactions with Joseon Dynasty tomb stonework for kings and scholar-gentry—a form that flourished during a period of limited pagoda construction. By comparing specific examples, the research reveals that modern-period pagodas sustain continuity within Korean stone pagoda history, countering earlier prejudices about their authenticity and origin.

Feeding Waters

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces — 2026 — WHE387D23C575

Centuries-old agricultural landscapes, including the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in China, demonstrate how adaptive practices can sustain food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity while working with natural water cycles. A comparative analysis of four traditional systems reveals their resilience stems from dynamic adaptation to environmental and socio-economic shifts, rather than rigid practices. Key lessons highlight circular water and nutrient flows, climate adaptability, the interdependence of food, ecology, and society, and the benefits of nature-based production over monocultures. However, these systems face threats from aging farming populations and urban expansion, which can disrupt their ecological foundations. The study advocates for adaptive agro-landscape planning to preserve these sustainable models in modern contexts.

Female Images of Sigiriya: Iconography and Interpretation

Ancient City of Sigiriya — 2026 — WHEBC80C0DCD2

A fragment of monumental paintings from the 5th-century AD palace and park complex of Sigiriya, featuring 22 female figures on its rock face, offers new insights into the iconography and function of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite decades of research, the purpose and meaning behind these unique paintings remain debated. The study emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to interpret the paintings in relation to the complex's architectural layout, functionality, and overall design. By examining various interpretations and stylistic parallels, the author proposes an original understanding of how these female images contribute to Sigiriya's spatial composition and conceptual design.

Feminists versus Monuments? From Protests to Anti‐monuments in Mexico City

Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco — 2026 — WHE7DE6DF561E

Feminist activists in Mexico City have redefined public protest by creating 'anti-monuments' to challenge state prioritization of heritage over gender-based violence prevention. These counter-hegemonic memorials, established during demonstrations, commemorate femicide victims while critiquing the protection of traditional monuments like those in Xochimilco and the Historic Centre. Unlike other social movements, feminists employ symbolic space occupation and monument damage as tactics that intertwine politics, memory, and urban heritage. The study reveals how these actions reflect broader tensions between state authority and grassroots demands for justice.

Feng Shui Environment of the Hyundai Motor Group Headquarters Site

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty — 2026 — WHEE70143081D

Hyundai Motor Group's headquarters site exhibits deep-rooted Feng Shui principles, blending orographic hierarchy and landform imagery to create an auspicious environment. The study identifies Mt. Cheonggye as the Taejosan and Mt. Guryong as the Jusan, forming a Samgilseong formation with Ansan Mountain and watercourses. The site's orientation aligns with traditional Yudu-hyeol principles, combining facing mountain and waterflow dynamics. Remedial elements like a round fountain and transparent glass were incorporated to enhance harmony. Notably, the area surrounding Mt. Guryong includes historical sites such as Pungnap and Mongchon Earthen Fortifications from the Baekje Kingdom and Joseon Dynasty royal tombs, including Heonneung and Inneung. The spatial layout reflects Cheon-won-ji-bang cosmology and strict primary-secondary order, demonstrating a seamless integration of traditional Eastern philosophies into modern corporate architecture.

First Comprehensive Assessment of Fish Diversity in the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam

Trang An Landscape Complex — 2026 — WHEAE4DAC1B30

A first-of-its-kind study documents 41 fish species—spanning 8 orders, 17 families, and 33 genera—in the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex, Vietnam. Among them, 12 were previously unrecorded in the Red River’s ichthyofauna, while biodiversity metrics (Shannon-Wiener index H′: Fair to Very Good; species richness d) revealed a remarkably even distribution across four key areas. The research also flags marine/brackish-water intruders and exotic invaders with potential ecological consequences. Conducted via four 2024 surveys at 20 sites, this work establishes a critical baseline for monitoring, conservation planning, and sustainable ecotourism in the World Heritage Site.

First Record of the Critically Endangered Vandeleuria nolthenii from Hakgala Botanical Garden, Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka — 2026 — WHEC968554F24

Researchers document the first record of the Critically Endangered Vandeleuria nolthenii, a montane-endemic rodent, from Hakgala Botanical Garden in Sri Lanka's Central Highlands. This discovery extends the known distribution of the species within human-modified montane habitats, highlighting its ability to utilize exotic vegetation and persist in modified landscapes. The observation involved five small, long-tailed mice emerging from a cavity in a dead Cupressus macrocarpa tree, suggesting a mother accompanied by nearly grown offspring. The study underscores the potential of citizen science in documenting elusive small mammals and advocates for continued collaboration among visitors, naturalists, and researchers to support monitoring and conservation efforts.

Fish spawning aggregations in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panamanian Pacific: six years of monitoring

Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection — 2026 — WHE59846E4E8A

A six-year monitoring effort in the Gulf of Chiriquí, Panamanian Pacific, has documented fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) for seven species, including three snappers, one jack, one grouper, and one wrasse. These aggregations were observed at multiple sites within Coiba National Park (CNP) and, for the first time, in the Islas Secas Archipelago (ISA). The study revealed that FSAs are associated with environmental conditions such as water column stratification, cold-water intrusion, thermocline shoaling, and decreased dissolved oxygen, all correlated with temperature dynamics. Spawning events were most frequent during morning hours. This research expands the known diversity of FSA-forming species in CNP from three to seven and provides new documentation for ISA.

Flyway population increase and emergence of new wintering grounds with climate change in an Arctic-breeding goose

Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta — 2026 — WHE6B5D1AC5DA

A significant rise in the Greater White-fronted Goose (GWfG) population along the Pannonic flyway, particularly in Hortobágy National Park, has been linked to climate change. Over 31 years (1989–2019), GWfG counts surged from under 2,000 to over 30,000 individuals, with a notable shift toward overwintering beginning in the mid-2000s. Milder winters, characterized by fewer frost and snowy days, have been the primary driver of this increase, while hunting disturbance and land cover changes played minor roles. Spring counts rose rapidly in the early years, whereas autumn counts increased more recently, indicating a dynamic response to climate shifts. The study highlights how climate change is reshaping migratory patterns, with implications for conservation strategies.

Folk Culture Tourism Development Strategies Based on RMP Analysis in Traditional Villages: Evidence from Xidi Village, China

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun — 2026 — WHE326A6B213C

A systematic analysis of folk culture tourism development in Xidi Village, China, reveals significant gaps between cultural resources, market demands, and available products, despite overall consistency among these dimensions. Key strategies to bridge these gaps include creating material product systems that emphasize local characteristics, innovating nonmaterial folk cultural experiences, designing attractive tourism routes, and addressing differentiated tourist needs. The study leverages the Resource–Market–Product (RMP) framework, integrating data from a local chronicle, pilot surveys, and online content analysis, to provide actionable insights for sustainable rural tourism and cultural revitalization.

Food Routes in the Dutch UNESCO Wadden Sea Region

Wadden Sea — 2026 — WHE1B12767150

Food routes in the Dutch Wadden Sea emerge as a promising yet underdeveloped tool for sustainable regional development and food consciousness. Unlike traditional food tours, these routes aim to foster short food supply chains, promote local food cultures, and engage visitors through immersive experiences. A qualitative study involving interviews with businesses across sectors—restaurants, farms, and food producers—revealed that while participation drives visibility and customer attraction, challenges such as poor coordination, lack of measurable outcomes, and limited diversity in offerings hinder their potential. Effective implementation requires grassroots support, strategic planning, marketing, clear value propositions, and impact monitoring. This research highlights the shift from consumption-driven tourism to more sustainable, community-centred initiatives, offering valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and local businesses aiming to promote local food and culture.

Footholds for Peopling the Valley of the Middle Reaches of the Selenga River in the Early Upper Paleolithic

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE3AE05459BB

A new analysis of Upper Paleolithic sites in the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape reveals that high-elevation locations (50–85 m above river level) likely served as strategic footholds for ancient populations, combining functions such as raw material sources, observation posts, logistical nodes, and habitation areas. Unlike lower-lying sites (10–40 m), these higher sites facilitated movement between major tributaries—Khaniy-Gol, Egijn-Gol, and Ikh-Tulberiin-Gol—while also offering access to hunting grounds in the Kharganyn-Gol valley. The study used cluster analysis of 52 sites based on elevation and distance from water, along with cost surface modeling to assess energy expenditure for movement, confirming the transit role of the Tolbor valley and its connectivity to adjacent regions.