World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 541 – 560 of 15962 publications

Historic landscape images and contemporary spatial practices at religious heritage sites: evidence from Mount Wutai, China

Mount Wutai — 2026 — WHED4A06F378D

A pronounced dislocation between historic landscape images and contemporary spatial practices was identified at Mount Wutai, revealing that sites with strong symbolic significance but interrupted ritual continuity attract limited engagement. Conversely, areas with active religious practices maintain both symbolic and experiential prominence. The study argues that the persistence of sacred landscape meaning relies on continued enactment of landscape practices, not just material heritage. Researchers spatially interpreted historical textual representations and compared them with contemporary movement patterns and dwell times to explore this dynamic. This relational understanding of image, practice, and sacredness offers implications for managing religious and cultural landscapes.

Historical Perspective of Mahabodhi Temple Religious Pilgrimage in Modern India

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya — 2026 — WHEF16CF032EB

Bodh Gaya's pilgrimage, centered around the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, has transitioned from an ancient monastic site to a globally significant religious and heritage destination in modern India. This study reveals its historical evolution, highlighting key phases: ancient foundations, colonial rediscovery, post-independence governance, UNESCO recognition, tourism growth, socio-economic impacts, and contemporary management challenges. The research employs analytical charts, diagrams, and maps to illustrate these transformations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the site's enduring significance.

History as a Barrier to Climate Change Adaptation and Conservation at the World Heritage Site, Tipasa, Algeria

Tipasa — 2026 — WHED2B7D2649A

Tipasa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Algeria's Mediterranean coast, faces significant risks from climate change-driven coastal erosion and sea-level rise, exacerbated by historical colonial barriers that hinder effective conservation. Despite repeated warnings and requests for action from UNESCO, the site remains vulnerable due to lack of local engagement, mismanagement, and disregard for expert advice. This study highlights how Tipasa's unique challenges—rooted in its complex Punic/Roman/Byzantine history and modern urban integration—differ from other Algerian heritage sites, placing it at greater risk of irreversible damage.

History of Studies and Main Results of Research on Medieval Burial Sites in Northeast Saryarka

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan — 2026 — WHE8C56D2B898

Research on medieval burial sites in Northeast Saryarka reveals distinct chronological groups characterized by diverse ritual practices, wooden structures, and funeral feast elements. The study identifies three key periods: the Kimak period (8th–10th centuries), 11th–13th century sites, and Late Medieval sites (14th–15th centuries) linked to monumental architecture development. By systematizing scattered field materials and publications, the research clarifies burial traditions and highlights gaps in modern archaeological data, offering new directions for future studies in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Holocene Nile dynamics shaped the physical and cultural landscape of ancient Nubia

Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region — 2026 — WHE2C38BF3B57

Research reveals that the Nile River's response to Holocene climate change, particularly its stabilization near Jebel Barkal during the Late Holocene, played a pivotal role in shaping ancient Nubia's landscape and cultural development. The study found that while the Early-Middle Holocene period saw significant valley incision, around 4,000 years ago, floodplain buildup occurred due to changing rainfall and river flow patterns. This stability, combined with Jebel Barkal's natural prominence, fostered enduring settlement and ritual activity in Napata, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its pyramids, temples, and palaces, which flourished from 1070 BCE to 350 CE. The findings were derived from 26 sediment cores analyzed using optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dating, supplemented by pottery typology and other chronological constraints.

House Proud

National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers — 2026 — WHEE28CCC3811

House Proud challenges the historical omission of Black-designed homes from architectural discourse, presenting a global compilation of residential spaces that span from prehistoric to contemporary periods. The work highlights the design culture of Africa and its diaspora, featuring notable examples such as the Tamberma Tatas of Togo and Benin, chattel homes in Barbados, the grandeur of Haiti's Palace of Sans Souci, and the New York retreat of Madam CJ Walker. Additionally, it includes contemporary Black British creatives like Yinka Shonibare and Reggie Yates, illustrating themes of heritage, innovation, resistance, and power. Through richly illustrated archival and modern imagery, the book serves as both an inspirational resource for professionals in architecture and design and a visual compendium of overlooked yet significant residential structures worldwide.

How do World Heritage Cultural Landscapes visually attract and educate tourists? A sentiment analysis based on eye-tracking experiments

West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou — 2026 — WHE79F9AF349C

Cultural landscapes, such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, attract tourists through visually engaging elements that shape perceptions of heritage value. Research reveals that complex structures like historic sites and artificial features evoke stronger cognitive responses, longer fixations, and higher satisfaction, while excessive cognitive load can reduce preference. Nonlinear effects also emerge, where higher proportions of certain elements accelerate attention but may induce aesthetic fatigue. Among five Chinese sites studied, Hani Terraces and Hangzhou West Lake stood out for their visual appeal and revisit intention. The study combined online sentiment analysis, eye-tracking experiments, and questionnaires to provide actionable insights for balancing heritage conservation with sustainable tourism, emphasizing the need for simplified designs, crowd management, and enhanced interpretive media.

How does AI perform as a tour guide? A user-based assessment through the ChatGPT tour guide performance model at Gordion

Gordion — 2026 — WHE37BC1CD220

AI, particularly ChatGPT, demonstrates significant potential as a tour guide at UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Gordion, offering cost-effective and practical solutions for individual travelers. However, its effectiveness is hindered by external factors such as limited spatial mobility and internet inaccessibility. The study identifies key competencies of AI in this role, including image and voice assistant features, while also highlighting its shortcomings. By employing the Task-Technology Fit Theory and Technology Acceptance Model, researchers conducted an experiment with 45 participants to assess ChatGPT's performance, contributing novel insights into the dynamics shaping AI's tour guide capabilities.

How Is Authenticity Perceived in the Management of African World Heritage Sites? The Case of World Heritage Sites in Mali

Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) — 2026 — WHEA2C854B52B

A study on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mali reveals that the authenticity of African earthen architectural heritage is not solely defined by material criteria but is deeply rooted in intangible practices and regenerative building cultures. This holistic approach, which emphasizes sociocultural and spiritual dimensions, often conflicts with modern urban development aspirations, posing significant challenges for sustainable conservation. The research analyzed perceptions of authenticity among local communities, heritage professionals, and visitors, highlighting a notable discrepancy between institutional definitions and community understandings. The study focuses on four sites: the Ancient Cities of Djenné and Timbuktu, the Bandiagara Escarpment (including the Cliff of Bandiagara), and the Tomb of Askia, some dating back to the 2nd-3rd century BCE.

How is Graffiti Done? . Scratching, Incising, and Engraving Stone in Bethlehem

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem — 2026 — WHEA41FF38B01

Stone graffiti in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, reveals sophisticated techniques contrary to the notion of spontaneous creation. The study identifies three primary methods: incision with simple tools like knives or points, often aided by rulers; hollow engraving using percussed dots, either isolated or connected; and V-shaped engraving through lateral percussion. These varied approaches, involving a range of skills and instruments, challenge the idea that such graffiti was created impulsively. Instead, they suggest a deliberate, premeditated process, blending improvisation with precision.

Human Response to Postglacial Sea Level Change in Jomon Prehistoric Sites Around Lake Ogawara, Northern Japan

Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan — 2026 — WHEB7BA88F5E1

Jomon populations in northern Japan adapted dynamically to postglacial sea-level changes, sustaining their culture through shifts in settlement and resource exploitation. The study reveals that rising sea levels between 10–8 ka created favorable shellfish habitats along Lake Ogawara's shores, prompting the formation of shell middens. As water shallowed after 7 ka, human habitation moved to southern shores where tidal flats persisted. By 5–4 ka, reduced salinity expanded freshwater wetlands, leading Jomon people to exploit brackish clams or relocate northward. This research demonstrates how geomorphological changes influenced human adaptation, offering insights into the resilience of prehistoric societies.

Human-Centered Cultural Heritage Conservation Beyond the Material Paradigm: A Marxian Framework and Evidence from Xidi Village, China

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun — 2026 — WHE5A175FBBF9

A paradigm shift from material-centered to human-centered cultural heritage conservation is proposed, integrating Marxian theory with collective memory and community agency. The study diagnoses alienating effects of traditional conservation—ossification of practice, reification of social relations, and narrowed human needs—and offers a dynamic framework emphasizing adaptive reuse, knowledge sharing, and ecological wholeness. Using Xidi Village, China, as a case study, the research demonstrates how festivals, rituals, and community governance can reconnect heritage with daily life, collective identity, and social relations without reducing it to static fabric or abstract theory.

Human-Hamadryas baboon conflict in and around Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP), Ethiopia

Simien National Park — 2026 — WHEA8318E676A

Human-Hamadryas baboon conflicts in Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP), Ethiopia, are significantly driven by agricultural expansion and human settlement encroachment near baboon habitats. A study found that 72.7% of surveyed households reported losses of both crops and livestock, with beans and peas being the most frequently raided crops, while sheep and goats were primarily affected livestock. Conflict intensity was highest within 2 km of baboon sleeping cliffs (P ≤ 0.001), particularly affecting middle-aged livestock. Farmers mitigated conflicts through guarding and sowing less vulnerable crops (40.9%). The study highlights the urgent need for habitat management and community-based mitigation to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and Hamadryas baboons, as both populations face threats from human disturbance and population pressure.

Human‐Caused Leopard Deaths in Sri Lanka Are Concentrated in Central Highlands' Estate Mosaics: Evidence From 17 Years of Mortality Records

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka — 2026 — WHE4D9F1BF67B

A significant increase in human-caused leopard deaths in Sri Lanka has been documented over 17 years, with mortality rates rising and clustering heavily in the Central Highlands' plantation landscapes. The study, analyzing 164 recorded deaths (2008–2024), revealed a male bias (68.4%) and adult dominance (87.3%), with snares being the leading cause (62.3%). Nuwara Eliya district alone accounted for 38.4% of cases, despite covering only 4.4% of Sri Lanka's leopard range. The research highlights critical hotspots and calls for targeted mitigation efforts, particularly in highland plantations, to combat snare-related threats.

Hunting strategies, success, and sustainability: A case study in a community forest on the edge of Salonga National Park, DRC

Salonga National Park — 2026 — WHE1012ECCA9F

Excessive hunting pressure on ungulate populations threatens biodiversity sustainability in Salonga National Park, DRC. Analysis of 1769 hunting trips revealed that metal snares (41%), bow and arrow (30%), and guns (25%) were the primary methods used, with significant seasonal variations. Ungulates accounted for 76.4% of biomass harvested, while reproductive data indicated potential population decline, with only 16.7% of hunted females pregnant and 10.3% lactating. These findings underscore the need for adaptive hunting management policies, including quotas and seasonal closures, to balance wildlife conservation with local livelihoods.

Hydrobiomorpha iguazu Bachmann 1988

Iguazu National Park — 2026 — WHE53E47D64A3

A new species of water beetle, Hydrobiomorpha iguazu, has been described from Iguazú National Park in Argentina. This discovery highlights the unique morphological traits of the species, including its large size (21.0–22.6 mm) and distinctive features such as a subelliptical body shape, a moderately long prosternal keel, and robust meso- and metatarsal claws with conspicuous proximal teeth. The male genitalia exhibit strong sclerotization with a bifurcate apex and elongate accessory appendages, while the female's fifth abdominal ventrite has a large subtriangular glabrous area. The species is further distinguished by its short setigerous furrow on the mesotibiae of males, unlike related species. The study utilized morphological analysis and examination of type specimens to characterize this new taxon, contributing to the biodiversity documentation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Hydrodynamics and water exchange features of Blagopoluchiya Bay (Solovetsky Islands, White Sea)

Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands — 2026 — WHE30CD87D921

Research on Blagopoluchiya Bay, part of the UNESCO-listed Solovetsky Islands, reveals significant seasonal variations in water exchange. The bay's water renewal period extends to 14 days during open-water seasons but exceeds 30 days during freeze-up, indicating restricted circulation during colder months. Turbulent diffusion within the enclosed bay is notably low (Kx ~0.02 m²/s), much less than typical shelf seas, suggesting unique hydrodynamic processes. The study analyzed in-situ measurements of temperature, salinity, turbidity, solar radiation, and currents to map wastewater and seawater distribution, providing critical insights into the bay's environmental dynamics.

Hydrogeochemical formation mechanism of springs in Huanglong, a world natural heritage, Sichuan, China

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area — 2026 — WHE36340621D7

A study of Huanglong World Natural Heritage site reveals that the unique alpine karst landscape, featuring calcareous pools and travertine formations, is primarily shaped by water–rock interactions. The hydrochemical composition of its springs, dominated by Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ ions, originates from carbonate mineral weathering and dissolution. Using mathematical statistics, cluster analysis, and the Gibbs model, researchers determined that while tourism has some impact, alternating cation adsorption does not significantly alter the hydrochemistry. This research provides critical insights for the sustainable management of Huanglong's water resources, supporting conservation efforts to preserve its extraordinary geological features.

Hydrometeorological and Topographic Controls on Rock Glacier Kinematics: A Case Study From Southeastern Alaska

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek — 2026 — WHE6926372B40

A study of seven active rock glaciers in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska, reveals that hydrological and thermal controls govern their spatial variability in kinematics. Rock glaciers exposed to greater solar radiation and warmer subsurface conditions exhibit enhanced meltwater infiltration and stronger seasonal deformation, while colder, shaded sites remain relatively stable. The research used multi-temporal Sentinel-1 InSAR data from 2018 to 2022, combined with Independent Component Analysis (ICA), hydraulic modeling, and thermal simulations to separate long-term trends from seasonal signals. This approach highlights the sensitivity of permafrost landforms to ongoing climate change, offering insights into their response to hydrometeorological factors.

Hyphodermella corrugata J. Erikss. & Ryvarden

Los Alerces National Park — 2026 — WHE8AEBC542FA

Hyphodermella corrugata, a fungus previously known from the Northern Hemisphere and the Patagonian Andes of Argentina, has been confirmed as widespread and abundant in Chile, particularly within Los Alerces National Park. This study expands its known distribution to include Chile's Chiloe region and identifies it on various host plants such as Amomyrtus luma, Luma apiculata, and Nothofagus dombeyi. Additionally, the research synonymizes several species described by Rick (1959) from Brazil with H. corrugata, though further study is needed to verify these identifications. The findings were based on extensive field collections across Chile, including detailed locality data and specimen examinations.