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Tangible Cultural Valuation: Data-driven Policy Implications for Trang An World Heritage Site

Trang An Landscape Complex — 2026 — WHEA58DD41008

A groundbreaking study quantifies the economic value of tangible cultural heritage at Vietnam's Trang An Landscape Complex, revealing that visitors are willing to pay up to VND 730,000 (domestic) and USD 26.6 (international) per visit to conserve historically significant monuments like the Dinh-Le Temples. Using a combination of Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), researchers estimated the total annual value of Trang An's cultural assets at over VND 1,940 billion (USD 278 million). The findings highlight income, prior knowledge, visit frequency, and conservation participation as key drivers of willingness to pay. This data-driven approach offers actionable insights for policies that balance heritage preservation with sustainable economic growth, positioning Trang An's cultural assets as engines for development.

Taxonomic turmoil around the genus Anoplistes Audinet-Serville, 1833 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Uvs Nuur Basin: a new species, a new synonym, and a species reinstatement

Uvs Nuur Basin — 2026 — WHED6C5BCB1F8

A groundbreaking taxonomic reassessment of the beetle genus Anoplistes in Mongolia's Uvs Nuur Basin reveals three key discoveries: the reinstatement of Anoplistes minutus as a distinct species, the synonymization of Anoplistes tuvensis, and the description of a previously overlooked species, Anoplistes pseudotuvensis. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, researchers distinguished these taxa based on morphological differences, ecological preferences, and host plant associations. This work resolves long-standing taxonomic confusion in the genus, providing a foundation for future integrative studies combining morphology, ecology, and molecular data.

Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in Área de Proteção de Pouso Alto, Chapada dos Veadeiros - GO

Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks — 2026 — WHE0B97731502

Despite the establishment of the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) de Pouso Alto in 2001, vegetation loss in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region has not been effectively mitigated. A study analyzing land cover changes over 23 years found that 27.8% of the APA experienced alterations, with 16.6% occurring post-protection designation. Critically, the wilderness zone—intended to have stricter protections—showed nearly triple the vegetation loss in 2023 compared to 2000. The failure to implement a management plan has left priority conservation areas vulnerable, undermining the APA's role in landscape protection and connectivity. Researchers used MapBiomas classification data to compare land use between 2000 (pre-APA) and 2023, revealing persistent threats to biodiversity despite legal safeguards.

TERRÆ NUOVÆ : transformative Raumidentitäten einer Lagunenstadt : Museo culturale del Delta : ein Kulturzentrum für Comacchio

Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta — 2026 — WHE82DE793D62

The unique cultural landscape of Comacchio, nestled within the Po Delta's lagoon, reflects a transformative interplay between human adaptation and environmental influence. This study reveals how political instability during late antiquity prompted the settlement in such demanding landscapes, fostering distinct architectural forms and cultural identities tied to water-based living. Historical analysis of urban development shows significant morphological changes from the 19th century onward, driven by technical advancements and economic pressures like unemployment, which led to extensive land reclamation. Today, the Valli's extensified use supports critical bird habitats within a Natura-2000 Biosphärenreservat, underscoring its ecological significance. Comacchio's evolution, alongside Ferrara, exemplifies how cultural landscapes adapt while retaining intrinsic identities, contributing to their 1995 UNESCO World Heritage designation.

Territorial claims and the privatization of public spaces in the Tugu Yogyakarta heritage area

The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks — 2026 — WHE646CA25382

Research on the Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta reveals that public spaces within heritage areas, such as Margo Utomo Street near Tugu Yogyakarta, are increasingly privatized by food vendors and customers through territorial claims. These claims, marked by both physical and non-physical elements, create a social gap between paid and unpaid spaces, altering spatial patterns and the symbolic meaning of the site. The study identifies two typologies of privatization: one driven by vendors personalizing their workspaces and another by customers marking their movement areas. This shift poses challenges to the site's sustainability and philosophical significance, highlighting the need for inclusive urban planning to preserve cultural and spatial integrity. The research applied a qualitative case study approach using Altman’s concept of public territory to analyze these dynamics.

Territorial expansion and parasitic zoonoses: the pampas gray fox in Argentina as a case study and its educational potential for prevention

Iguazu National Park — 2026 — WHE370E494827

Urban expansion into natural habitats increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, particularly through interactions with the Pampas gray fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), a widespread and ecologically significant wild canid in Argentina. The study highlights that habitat fragmentation, land-use changes, and human encroachment facilitate closer contact between humans and native wildlife, creating conditions for pathogen exposure. Research demonstrates that Pampas gray foxes harbor multiple helminths and protozoa, including Neospora caninum, which poses economic risks to livestock and potential public health threats. The study emphasizes the need for One Health education to prevent zoonotic transmission, advocating for integrated approaches that address human-animal interactions in rural, peri-urban, and urban settings while promoting conservation through policy changes like banning poisons and improving waste management.

The “bird standing on platform”: semiotic inquiry and humanistic interpretations centering on the Liangzhu bird totem

Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City — 2026 — WHE14778B2B2D

A semiotic analysis of the 'Bird Standing on Platform' inscriptions at Liangzhu City reveals profound cultural and symbolic significance, offering new insights into China's 5,000-year-old civilization. Using Charles S. Peirce’s triadic model—icon, index, and symbol—the study decodes materiality, social function, and cultural conventions embedded in these artifacts. This layered approach situates the findings within a dynamic process of representation, interpretation, and meaning, enriching our understanding of Liangzhu's cultural sophistication. The research underscores the global humanistic value of Liangzhu culture as a 'golden national emblem,' fostering cross-civilizational dialogue.

The Abbey of St. Gall in the Context of the Magyar Invasion of 926

Abbey of St Gall — 2026 — WHE9675100522

A key insight from this study is the portrayal of Engilbert II of St. Gall as a skilled military leader who successfully defended the Abbey against the Magyar invasion of 926, strengthening its political and religious immunity. This finding challenges traditional narratives by emphasizing the Abbey's strategic alliance with King Henry the Fowler, which bolstered its resistance to monastic reformers. The research relies on Ekkehard IV's 'Casus Sancti Galli,' a 11th-century account that critiques the Monastic Reform while depicting Engilbert as both loyal and militarily adept. By analyzing this text, the study reveals how the Abbey leveraged royal patronage to solidify its autonomy, offering new perspectives on medieval power dynamics.

The abduction of Lady Grange to St Kilda: searching for truth

St Kilda — 2026 — WHE94D51FAF09

New evidence challenges long-standing inaccuracies surrounding the abduction of Lady Grange by Jacobite supporters in 1732, revealing her true ordeal of isolation and destitution. Contrary to prevailing narratives, she was not comfortably lodged but endured eight years of captivity on St Kilda before being moved across the Highlands until her death in 1745. The study, based on extensive research, reconstructs the most plausible route of her imprisonment and exposes the complicity of influential figures, including clan chiefs, during the decline of the Highland Clan system. By critically analyzing historical accounts, this work corrects misconceptions and sheds light on the complex dynamics of power and autonomy in 18th-century Scotland.

The Andrew Phaswana Site: A new locality in the Swartkrans Cave paleoanthropological complex (South Africa)

The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa — 2026 — WHE4D054D13AF

A new paleoanthropological site, the Andrew Phaswana Site (APS), has been discovered near Swartkrans Cave within South Africa's UNESCO Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Preliminary analyses reveal a complex formational history where older breccia bodies eroded and collapsed, mixing Pleistocene and Holocene faunal assemblages in the floor sediments. However, cultural materials such as lithics, ostrich eggshell fragments, ochre, and quartz crystals suggest an intact Later Stone Age (LSA) assemblage, rare in this region. APS offers potential insights into later Pleistocene to Holocene human occupation, complementing findings from Members 4 and 5 of the Swartkrans Formation.

The Aniene River: an ecological and cultural corridor between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Rome and Tivoli

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2026 — WHE517425393F

The Aniene River serves as a vital ecocultural corridor linking UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Rome and Tivoli, offering a model for integrated conservation. This study identifies the river as a strategic node—particularly the Lunghezza and del Cavaliere estates—that can restore ecological and settlement continuities while valorizing diffuse heritage. By analyzing five dimensions (morphological, ecological, cultural, managerial, narrative), the research proposes an operational framework to reconcile protection policies with planning instruments like UNESCO Management Plans and the Aniene Nature Reserve. It highlights how urbanization, transport infrastructure, and industrial decline have fragmented the landscape but suggests participatory governance and slow mobility as solutions for reconnecting disparate territories. The corridor emerges as a replicable laboratory for advanced peri-urban cultural landscape management.

The Anthracology of Faidherbia Albida Parklands in West Africa: A Review and a Case Study from Tyi, Dogon Country, Mali

Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) — 2026 — WHE5D82FDD953

Recent anthracological research reveals that the spread of Faidherbia albida, a multipurpose tree species, in West African savannas began significantly earlier—hundreds of years ago—than previously thought. This shift occurred under intensified land use and possibly the influence of Fulani groups, challenging earlier estimates that placed its rise around 1,000 years ago. The study, conducted at Tyi in Mali's Dogon Country using large charcoal samples, provides a more precise timeline for this species' expansion in managed Sahelian landscapes, offering new insights into historical land-use dynamics in West Africa.

The Anti-Cariogenic Efficacy of Four Selected Lamiaceae Species, Collected from South Sinai, and Their Sustainable in Vitro Culture Establishment

Saint Catherine Area — 2026 — WHE6A20E3D0DF

Research identifies Teucrium leucocladum and Nepeta septemcrenata as potent anti-cariogenic agents, demonstrating strong antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans with inhibition zones of 18.67 mm and 18.33 mm, respectively. These Lamiaceae species, sourced from the Saint Catherine Area in South Sinai, also exhibit terpenoid content, positioning them as promising alternatives to synthetic treatments for dental caries. The study further establishes a sustainable in vitro culture protocol using Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.4 mg/L NAA, achieving 100% callus induction and shoot regeneration across multiple species. This dual approach combines pharmacological validation with biotechnological sustainability, offering a robust framework for future applications.

The Aotea Protocol: Forensic Reconstruction of the Tahitian Successor State in Aotearoa

Taputapuātea — 2026 — WHE5FD112D9D1

Forensic analysis reveals that Māori settlement in Aotearoa (New Zealand) constituted a sovereign extension of the Tahitian High Council at Taputapuātea, with waka (canoes) functioning as executive state portfolios. This challenges 180 years of systemic erasure by British occupation and asserts continuing jurisdiction under the Aotea Executive Seat. The 'Protocol of Absence' demonstrates that the Aotea Seat in Raiatea was left vacant not for abandonment, but to signify jurisdictional extension, with the naming of Aotearoa establishing permanent legal intent (Animus Possidendi) to possess and govern. Verification draws from historical documents including the Original Signatory List (1835), Māori Land Court Minute Books, S. Percy Smith's archives, and Whakaki Marae genealogical records.

The Application of Multinomial Naive Bayes for Sentiment Analysis of Cultural Tourism Reviews: A Case Study of Borobudur and Prambanan Temples

Prambanan Temple Compounds — 2026 — WHE34C1523765

A comparative sentiment analysis of tourist reviews from Borobudur and Prambanan Temples, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reveals significant differences in visitor perceptions. Prambanan recorded a higher proportion of positive sentiment (82.5%) compared to Borobudur (73.7%), with recurring negative complaints centered on heat, ticket prices, and parking. The study employed a hybrid methodology combining web scraping, automated labeling via VADER, preprocessing, TF-IDF feature weighting, and Multinomial Naive Bayes classification, achieving accuracies of 81.9% for Prambanan and 74.7% for Borobudur. Visualization techniques like word clouds further highlighted key pain points, offering actionable insights for tourism management to enhance service quality based on data-driven feedback.

The Artistic Form of the Muslim Alhambra in Granada and its Transformation in the Christian Alcázar of Sevilla

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville — 2026 — WHE6A457207EC

A comparative analysis reveals that the transition from Muslim to Christian rule in southern Spain led to the emergence of a distinct architectural language, blending elements from both Hispano-Muslim and Western European traditions. The study identifies key criteria underlying this synthesis, particularly in spatial organization and ornamental decoration, such as stucco carving, ceramic revetments, and ceiling structures. By examining the Alhambra in Granada—renowned for its 13th- and 14th-century Islamic art—and the Alcázar of Seville—a pioneering Christian residence built in the Mudéjar style—the research establishes a typology that highlights mechanisms of intercultural syncretism. This synthesis not only shaped the artistic language of medieval Spain but also set new tendencies for the Spanish Mediterranean region.

The Baalbek Enigma

Baalbek — 2026 — WHEDAC12E7C22

Baalbek’s temple complex, particularly its colossal Trilithon monoliths, challenges conventional Roman-era construction timelines. Weaving together archaeological evidence—continuous Neolithic habitation, Bronze Age foundations, and geodetic alignments with Giza and Heliopolis—this study argues that Baalbek’s megalithic structures may predate the Roman Imperial period (1st–3rd centuries CE). The research synthesizes conventional and alternative viewpoints, proposing a reassessment of the site’s historical timeline. By examining medieval legends, ancient names like 'Heliopolis,' and sacred significance across millennia, it offers a new framework for understanding Baalbek’s enduring enigma.

The Ballcourt at Monte Albán: Research Synthesis

Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán — 2026 — WHE0F8E7D66F3

The Ballcourt at Monte Albán, an I-shaped monumental arena constructed between 100 BCE and 200 CE, functions not merely as a sporting facility but as a sophisticated instrument of Zapotec state ritual. Unlike later Mesoamerican ballcourts, this structure lacks vertical stone scoring rings and features a north-south orientation with sloping lime-plastered playing surfaces, open-ended configuration, and carved solar disks along its architectural boundaries. These unique characteristics suggest its role in materializing cosmic cycles, political authority, military power, and formal conflict resolution mechanisms. The study synthesizes spatial morphology, architectural engineering, ritual function, and celestial iconography, drawing on the Alfonso Caso Monte Albán Project's excavations and comparative research within the Valley of Oaxaca.

The Bamiyan Colossi, the Garden of Eden, and the Bridge of Judgment: A Comparative Study of Sacred Narratives from the Avesta to the Qur'an

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley — 2026 — WHE3014DD5903

The Bamiyan Colossi, once towering Buddhist statues destroyed in 2001, are revealed to be foundational figures in the eschatological frameworks of Zoroastrianism and Islam. The larger statue (55m), named 'Salsal' in the Qur'an, links directly to Adam's creation from clay, while the smaller (38m) represents Eve as 'Shamama.' This study demonstrates that the concepts of paradise (Garodeman/Jannah), hell (Drujodeman/Jahannam), and the Bridge of Judgment (Chinvat/As-Sirāt) originated in the Bamiyan-Helmand region, identified as Airyanem Vaejah. The research integrates linguistic, genetic, and textual evidence, including the Shahnameh and Avestan traditions, to show that this region—home to the Āzrah (Hazara) people with 25–35% Avestan vocabulary in their language and Neolithic Iranian haplogroups—was the birthplace of these enduring spiritual narratives. This challenges conventional origins, tracing them to central Afghanistan rather than the Arabian Peninsula or Levant.

The Beautiful Nothing: A Cosmic Reflection from Hafez's Tomb to Pasargadae

Pasargadae — 2026 — WHEEBAE477858

A groundbreaking simulation anchors the Solar System at Hafez's Tomb in Shiraz, Iran, scaling Earth to the size of a human cell. This localized model traces cosmic scales from the Sun (a 2mm bead on the tombstone) through the Oort Cloud boundary at Mount Bamu, culminating at the nearest neighboring star near Pasargadae's Almas-Bor mine. By integrating astronomical precision with Persian cultural heritage and Artemis II mission imagery, the study highlights humanity's profound isolation in the universe—a reflection on the 'Beautiful Nothing' that defines our existence.