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The Semiotic Construction of Meaning in Photographic Representations of Traditional Architecture in the Wilaya of Ghardaïa: A Semiological Analysis

M'Zab Valley — 2026 — WHE8F00F40DE5

Photographic representations of traditional architecture in the M'Zab Valley, Algeria, reveal layered cultural meanings tied to collective identity and social organization. Key visual elements—such as mosque minarets, narrow alleyways, earthen walls, and traditional doors—serve as signifiers evoking concepts like solidarity, religious-spatial order, privacy, climate adaptation, and deep-rooted belonging. The study applies semiological analysis, distinguishing denotative (literal) and connotative (cultural) meanings using Roland Barthes' framework. Nine archival images from Ghardaïa's heritage were analyzed alongside semi-structured interviews to contextualize findings. This approach demonstrates how architecture functions as both a physical structure and a symbolic carrier of cultural narratives.

The silent threat: neglected wildlife diseases and the urgent need for a One Health action plan in Bangladesh

Sundarbans National Park — 2026 — WHEFCBF591509

A critical gap in wildlife disease surveillance within Bangladesh's fragmented national institutions is threatening endangered species, destabilizing ecosystems, and elevating pandemic risk. Recent outbreaks, such as anthrax in Rangpur and bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Safari Park wildlife, highlight the undetected spillover of pathogens across species barriers, particularly in high-density human–livestock–wildlife interfaces like the Sundarbans National Park. The study underscores the urgent need for a One Health action plan, integrating veterinarians' roles in early detection, diagnosis, vaccination, and cross-species surveillance to ensure national security and biodiversity conservation.

The Singing Prophet of the Dogon. A Nineteenth Century Voice on Dogon-Fulbe Relations and his Legacy

Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) — 2026 — WHE889081A452

A body of 19th-century Dogon songs, known as baja ni, preserves previously unrecognized historical insights into the relationship between the Dogon and Fulbe peoples during the Macina realm. These songs, attributed to a blind poet-prophet named Abirè Goro, continue to play a role in Dogon funeral rituals and contain prophecies that have gained new relevance amid ongoing conflicts between the two groups. The study analyzes these oral traditions as a unique archive of social history, linking Dogon identity and future prospects to broader Mande cultural narratives.

The social and environmental impacts on local residents from tourist accommodation near protected areas

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area — 2026 — WHEB3F727E0C2

Tourism, while beneficial for local economic development and living conditions, can exacerbate social inequities and environmental challenges near protected areas. A study on Longweiba village within China's Wulingyuan Historic and Scenic Area reveals that the presence of boutique rural hotels and bed-and-breakfast enterprises, intended to offset conservation impacts, has led to significant concerns among residents, including unfair regulations, inconsistent governance, and environmental degradation such as sewage pollution and water shortages. The research, employing ethnographic methods and interviews with 30 residents and a government official, highlights that poor planning, inequitable policies, and inconsistent enforcement have worsened these issues. The findings underscore the need for better governance, inclusive community engagement, and clear policies to ensure sustainable and equitable tourism development near protected areas.

The Sociology of New Communities

Saltaire — 2026 — WHE69BAD84DBE

A core insight from this study is that the creation of new communities, such as Saltaire, reflects a pervasive societal belief in the virtue of small-scale living over large-scale or mass society. This belief has persisted across centuries, from 19th-century social reformers advocating urban improvements to contemporary 'communitarians' seeking simplicity and local community involvement. The research identifies two key traditions: one focused on urban reform through policy (e.g., garden cities) and another on more fundamental social reconstruction, often led by middle-class intellectuals with utopian ideals or pragmatic approaches like those seen in Saltaire. Modern advocacy for 'small communities' merges these traditions, emphasizing social planning over physical or economic planning to foster citizen participation. However, this philosophy is not universally accepted, highlighting the existence of alternative values regarding community design.

The Soviet Paradox: Simultaneous Acts of Preserving and Destroying the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi — 2026 — WHE5285A567BB

Soviet authorities simultaneously preserved and undermined the religious significance of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a revered Sufi site, through contradictory measures. While they aimed to convert it into an atheist museum as part of their secularization efforts, prolonged restoration delays and the absence of explicit atheist labeling prevented full ideological imposition. This paradoxical approach is revealed through newly uncovered archival documents, offering insight into how Soviet policies sought to erase religious reverence while maintaining cultural heritage.

The strategy of urban development of the citatel cities comparative study between design strategy of the development of the citadel of aleppo and the citadel of erbil

Erbil Citadel — 2026 — WHEAAFECD8F38

Historical citadels significantly influence urban development and shape city centers, serving as both tourist attractions and strategic landmarks. A comparative study between the Citadel of Aleppo and Erbil's Citadel reveals that Erbil's isolation from its role as an urban node has led to a loss of integration with surrounding areas, despite its historical significance and current status as a capital in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The research identifies a lack of clear strategic development perception for Erbil's citadel, which impacts the integrity of the citadel and its historical characteristics. By analyzing Aleppo's model, known for its effective urban development strategy, the study proposes that integrating citadels into their surrounding urban fabric can enhance their role as constructive landmarks and tourist attractions.

The Structure and Changes of Gaya–Wa Exchange Based on Tomb Evidence

Gaya Tumuli — 2026 — WHE66A47AB7C2

Archaeological evidence from Gaya tumuli reveals that exchanges between Gaya and Wa (倭) in the Japanese archipelago were not merely one-way cultural borrowing but involved sustained, two-way interactions. The study identifies structural affinities in burial construction techniques, such as earthen embankment methods, linking Gaya's large mounds to keyhole-shaped mounds in western Japan. This suggests human mobility and technological exchange, particularly centered around Geumgwan Gaya from the mid-fourth century. Additionally, Wa-style stone-chamber tombs concentrated in southern Gaya after the sixth century indicate local adaptation alongside continuity with Kyushu traditions, reflecting strategic political objectives and maritime significance during periods of increased pressure from neighboring Korean states.

The Systematic Erasure of Avestan History: From Sasanian Appropriation to Digital Revelation

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley — 2026 — WHE1E39ADF7C2

Digital archaeology and genetic evidence reveal the Āzrah people of Bamiyan have preserved 25–35% of core Avestan vocabulary for over three millennia, contradicting the imposed 'Mongol' identity. The study traces systematic erasure of Avestan heritage—from Sasanian rewriting of sacred texts to Taliban destruction of the Buddhas—and shows how digital tools now expose political distortions in history and identity.

The Tattooed Ritual Head of Nasca: Marked Skin, Corporeal Inscription, and Symbolic Transformation

Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa — 2026 — WHE94780983B0

A rare tattooed ritual head from the Nasca culture, discovered in Peru, reveals that deliberate multi-stroke tattooing—distinguished through near-infrared imaging—was a key element of Andean ritual practices. This finding challenges assumptions about postmortem staining and provides diagnostic criteria for identifying tattoos on mummified tissue. The study links cutaneous markings to broader Nasca iconographic traditions, suggesting tattooing played a role in transforming the head from a person into a ritually charged object, mediating between life, death, and ancestral veneration. By comparing these markings with trophy-head imagery across different media, researchers propose a model that integrates biological evidence with artistic representations, advancing understanding of corporeality, material transformation, and ritual efficacy in Andean archaeology.

The Theater of Marvels: Reorganizing the Campus Lateranensis through Sistine Curial Ceremony

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2026 — WHE4A084D71EE

Pope Sixtus V's urban transformation of the Campus Lateranensis, documented through curial ceremonies and architectural interventions, reveals a strategic effort to centralize papal authority. The study highlights the relocation of an ancient obelisk from the Circus Maximus to the Lateran Basilica, symbolizing papal dominance over Rome's ecclesiastical governance. Demolitions, including the Torre degli Annibaldi and surrounding structures, cleared space for the grand Palazzo Apostolico, designed to accommodate curial functions and reinforce papal presence. The research draws on primary sources like Paolo Alaleone de Branca's diary and Fontana's accounts, analyzing urban planning, ceremonial rituals, and architectural innovations that reshaped the Lateran landscape, mirroring earlier models such as the Palazzo Farnese.

The therapeutic dimension of cultural heritage: insights from Santiniketan, India

Santiniketan — 2026 — WHEDA51718ED0

Santiniketan, India, emerges as a living cultural-therapeutic space where art, nature, and pedagogy converge to evoke positive emotional experiences that enhance tourists' psychological well-being. The study reveals dominant themes of serenity, joy, and trust, reflecting its restorative atmosphere through four interrelated experiential dimensions: Educational-Cognitive, Aesthetic-Cultural, Natural-Restorative, and Relational-Experiential. Unlike traditional therapeutic landscape studies, this research integrates computational text analytics—such as lexical sentiment analysis, Plutchik emotion detection, and Structural Topic Modelling (STM)—with qualitative field engagement to analyze 587 TripAdvisor reviews and 15 on-site interviews. The findings extend theoretical frameworks into heritage contexts while offering actionable insights for sustainable destination management that preserves the multisensory and community-embedded essence of living sites.

The Transfer of Avestan Sacred Geography and Civilization from Airyanem Vaejah to Western Iran

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley — 2026 — WHE444C9A4EFB

Research reveals that the Āzrah (Hazara) people, genetically and linguistically linked to the ancient Avestan Arəzahī, have preserved 25–35% of core Avestan vocabulary in their Hazaragi dialect despite enduring imperial assaults spanning over a millennium. This unprecedented linguistic continuity, supported by J2a1-Page55 haplogroup data, positions them as the unconquered founders of Zoroastrian civilization. The study traces the deliberate Sasanian Empire's rewriting of the Avesta and relocation of sacred toponyms from eastern Iranian origins—Bamiyan Valley and Balkh—to western Iran during the 3rd–7th centuries CE, aligning religious heritage with political goals. By analyzing textual transmission, archaeological evidence, and genetic data, it reconstructs the trajectory from Alexander's destruction of the Avesta to its final redaction under Shapur II and the fall of Ctesiphon in 637 CE.

The Transmutation of Kufic Script in the Mediterranean: Artistic Appropriation and Institutional Identity (10th to 15th Centuries)

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale — 2026 — WHEA30743A271

Pseudo-Kufic script served as a deliberate ideological tool in medieval Mediterranean art, functioning beyond mere decoration to symbolize sanctity and institutional legitimacy. This study reveals that its transformation across Byzantine, Norman Sicilian, and Italian contexts—spanning the 10th to 15th centuries—was a conscious act of cultural appropriation rather than passive imitation. Through comparative iconographic analysis, epigraphic examination, and stylistic assessment, researchers identified luxury textiles and portable objects as key vectors for Kufic forms entering Christian artistic media. The fluid boundary between authentic inscription and ornamental imitation was strategically exploited by medieval institutions to assert power and identity in multilingual, multi-confessional societies.

The Trinity Lavra of St Sergius in William Palmer’s Travel Diary: Monastic Organisation and Daily Life

Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad — 2026 — WHEE219ED1AE2

Historian William Palmer's travel diary from 1840–1841 offers a uniquely positive portrayal of the Trinity Lavra of St Sergius, contrasting with contemporary Western accounts. His detailed observations reveal the monastery's strict rules, spiritual academic education, and social engagement as central to its reverence in Russia. Palmer's perception, analyzed through imagological and historical-philological methods, highlights his synthesis of Eastern Byzantine and Western cultures, emphasizing Orthodox culture's potential to integrate beneficial Western traditions while maintaining Russian spiritual principles. Excerpts from his notes on the Sergius Monastery and Spaso-Vifansky Skete are introduced for the first time in scholarly circulation, showcasing his vivid, emotional writing style.

The Tyranny of Travel: Re-framing Tourism Planning in Post-Conflict Sub-Saharan Africa

Ruins of Loropéni — 2026 — WHE1DC56946EA

Authoritarian governance significantly hampers tourism potential in Sub-Saharan Africa, stifling economic growth and development. This study reveals that countries with prolonged leadership or recent political instability face severe declines in tourist arrivals, revenue, and infrastructure investment—such as Burkina Faso's Ruins of Loropéni, which saw visitor numbers plummet from 150,000 in 2015 to 50,000 in 2023. The research identifies key barriers, including insecurity, restricted access, controlled narratives, and elite capture, while proposing mitigation strategies such as strengthening democratic institutions, regional sanctions, youth empowerment through digital platforms, conflict resolution, and community-based tourism models. Drawing on systematic literature reviews and case studies—including successful examples from Botswana and Namibia—the study argues that post-conflict recovery requires innovative resilience strategies and effective destination image management to unlock tourism's economic potential.

The Uneven and Controversial Character of ‘Minoan’ Culture in the Central and Eastern Aegean: A Contextual Analysis

Minoan Palatial Centres — 2026 — WHE5C7D744B3D

Minoan culture, long perceived as a unified and centralized phenomenon originating from Crete, is revealed to be far more complex and heterogeneous. This study challenges the notion of a cohesive 'core' by demonstrating that Minoanisation—defined as the adoption of Cretan material culture traits beyond Crete during the Late Bronze Age (LBA)—was a multi-sited, multi-directional process with no uniform distribution or political control. While Knossos played a leading role in legitimizing territorial expansion and promoting ideological propaganda during the Neopalatial period (LM IA–IB), palatial Crete itself was a composite political landscape characterized by gradual hierarchization and formalization in its systems. The research employs case studies from the Cycladic islands, south-east, and north-east Aegean to analyze ceramic production, mobility of people and ideas, and ritual behaviors, highlighting the uneven and controversial nature of Minoan culture across the Aegean.

The Usage History of the Aqueduct of Nîmes Reconstructed From Carbonate Archives: Operation, Modifications and Late Antique Breakdown and Change

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) — 2026 — WHE8AF25376B1

Anthropogenic carbonate deposits along the Roman aqueduct of Nîmes, including the iconic Pont du Gard, reveal critical insights into ancient water management and environmental shifts. The study found that after 11 years of operation, a secondary water source was integrated to mitigate drought conditions, while water delivery to the city declined after 100 years due to rural irrigation demands. By AD 250–270, urban water supply ceased amid empire-wide crises, yet the aqueduct's upstream sections remained functional for irrigation for another century. Using stable isotopes (C, O, Sr) and trace elements, researchers reconstructed hydroclimate dynamics and human interference over 220–360 years, offering a detailed timeline of the aqueduct's breakdown and its implications for urban change.

The Venice Charter sixty years on: legacy, relevance and new heritage challenges

Venice and its Lagoon — 2026 — WHE8465092188

The Venice Charter, adopted by ICOMOS in 1964, remains a cornerstone in heritage conservation despite the emergence of new challenges such as mass tourism, digital transformation, and shifting cultural dynamics. While its principles continue to guide global heritage safeguarding efforts, contemporary pressures question its adequacy in addressing modern dilemmas. This special issue of Conservar Património critically examines the Charter's legacy, proposing reforms to align it with 21st-century demands, including a focus on human and non-human wellbeing, urban cultural values, and co-production of knowledge between stakeholders. Contributions explore innovative frameworks for heritage management, such as integrating Vitruvian criteria into religious monument preservation, signaling potential paradigm shifts in European heritage conservation.

The Villa of Poppaea at Oplontis

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2026 — WHE1B2E9110BB

The Villa of Poppaea at Oplontis, near Pompeii, reveals a dynamic evolution of Roman elite architecture and artistry spanning 120 years. Analysis of its decorations—ranging from Second-Style frescoes (60–40 BC) to Fourth-Style additions (AD 45–79)—demonstrates how the villa adapted to changing tastes, political shifts, and economic trends. Unique features such as alabaster thresholds, monolithic columns, and a lavish entertainment complex underscore the owner's wealth and status. The study also highlights the villa's final phase of decline, marked by the stripping of marbles and capitals for sale, offering rare insights into the material culture of late Roman society.