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Showing 1241 – 1260 of 15962 publications

The Vital Role Of Archaeological Geochemistry In Supporting Sustainable Development In Libya

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna — 2026 — WHE119A5E08AE

Archaeological geochemistry emerges as a pivotal tool for understanding past human activities, environmental interactions, and resource utilization in Libya's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Leptis Magna. This study highlights how geochemical analysis of soil, sediment, ceramics, and metallurgical samples reveals critical insights into elemental composition and isotopes, shedding light on ancient trade networks, agricultural practices, and technological advancements. By integrating methodologies from geochemistry, archaeology, and environmental science, the research addresses key questions about site formation processes, pollution, and paleoenvironments in arid and semi-arid regions. Notably, it underscores the significance of this approach for water management studies, mineral resource exploitation, and assessing human impacts on coastal zones. Additionally, geochemical properties are leveraged for heritage conservation, offering a path to understanding material degradation and developing restoration strategies for these invaluable sites.

The Weaponization of Archaeology

Sebastia — 2026 — WHEEE223EE6FF

Archaeology at Tell Sebastia, a multilayered site with deep historical significance, has been weaponized in the Israel–Palestine conflict. Israeli authorities and settler groups have reshaped its narrative to emphasize Jewish biblical heritage through new excavations, land confiscation, and restricted Palestinian access, illustrating the intersection of heritage, power, and structural violence within settler colonialism. The study, based on interviews with ten Sebastia residents, reveals how these actions exacerbate cultural displacement and political control in a contested region.

The Woman from Rakhigarhi: Ancient Genome I6113

Shahr-i Sokhta — 2026 — WHE9F23E096D5

Ancient DNA analysis of I6113, a 35-year-old woman from the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), reveals that her ancestry is a mixture of ancient Iranian-related populations and Ancient Ancestral South Indians (AASI), with no evidence of steppe pastoralist or Anatolian farmer influence. This challenges the notion of external demographic replacement in IVC's formation. The study also identifies IVC-cline ancestry in individuals from non-IVC sites, suggesting a distributed human diaspora that maintained symbolic systems across vast distances without central enforcement. The research required extensive skeletal sampling and sequencing efforts to extract viable ancient DNA.

Thebes

Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis — 2026 — WHEB6EDDEA1F8

A pioneering 19th-century account of Ancient Thebes and its necropolis, penned by Alexander Henry Rhind, reveals significant insights into the funerary practices and architectural innovations of ancient Egypt. Rhind's work, drawn from extensive excavations in the necropolis, documents the transition in tomb construction from rock-cut chambers to more elaborate structures, reflecting societal changes during the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE). The text also provides a rare contemporary record of the tombs' occupants, offering a glimpse into the lives and burial customs of Egypt's elite. Rhind's meticulous observations, combining archaeological fieldwork with historical analysis, laid foundational groundwork for modern Egyptological studies on funerary architecture and mortuary practices.

Theravāda and Mahāyāna Perspectives on Lumbini: A Comparative Historical and Archaeological Study

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha — 2026 — WHE3B6A1006BD

Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in present-day Nepal, is recognized as a shared Buddhist heritage site by both Theravāda and Mahāyāna traditions, despite their differing doctrinal interpretations. Archaeological evidence, including the Aśokan pillar inscription and marker stones, supports Lumbini's historical authenticity as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama. This comparative study analyzes Pali Canonical texts, Sanskrit literature, and archaeological reports to demonstrate that both traditions deeply respect Lumbini as a symbol of unity, pilgrimage, and spiritual value for Buddhists worldwide.

Thermal extremes and multi-stressor environmental variability across the Belize Barrier Reef System

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System — 2026 — WHEDC5AD7232F

A marked intensification of thermal stress, including more frequent and severe marine heatwaves (MHWs) and elevated Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), has been observed across the Belize Barrier Reef System (BBRS) from 1985 to 2025. The study, integrating multi-stressor environmental data such as sea surface temperature, ocean color, currents, wind, climate indices, and carbonate-system proxies, reveals spatially heterogeneous reef exposure. While all site clusters experienced bleaching-level DHW in 1998, the highest thermal stress occurred in 2023–2024, with some sites exceeding critical thresholds. Distinct environmental regimes were identified, with Site A facing acute multi-stressor conditions and Site I experiencing chronic stress. Carbonate-system proxies indicate increasing ocean acidification, though variability exists among sites. This integrated framework underscores the complex interplay of thermal stress, water quality, hydrodynamics, and climate change on reef resilience.

Three new species of Scottmoria (Lecythidaceae), from the tropical cloud forest of Panama

Darien National Park — 2026 — WHE34F4ACB3D2

Researchers have identified three new species of Scottmoria (Lecythidaceae) trees within the tropical cloud forests of Panama, including Darien National Park. These discoveries—Scottmoria santafeensis, Scottmoria ilianacisneroi, and Scottmoria gracie—expand the known biodiversity of the region while providing critical insights into their conservation status, ecology, distribution, and diagnostic traits. The study employs field observations, morphological analysis, and phenological data to characterize these species, supported by photo plates and a distribution map. This work underscores the importance of cloud forest ecosystems in Panama as hotspots for botanical diversity and highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts.

Three Ostraca from Jebel Barkal: Problems of Text and Context

Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region — 2026 — WHEF80127174C

Three newly analyzed ostraca from Jebel Barkal, Sudan, offer rare insights into Meroitic inscriptions, challenging assumptions about the site's epigraphic record. Unlike the well-studied Natakamani Stele, these fragmentary texts—discovered between 1973 and 2026 at Building B2200 (the 'Edifice of the Basins')—reveal nuanced linguistic and contextual complexities, suggesting a more dynamic epigraphic tradition than previously recognized. The analysis employs comparative textual and archaeological methods to reconstruct meanings while addressing gaps in preservation and interpretation. These findings highlight the importance of minor inscriptions in understanding Meroitic culture and the site's historical significance.

Tijuca Massif, Its Forests, and the Social Metabolism of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century

Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea — 2026 — WHE2C0DF17E9C

Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Massif and its forests, including the largest planted urban forest in Brazil, played a pivotal role in the city's expansion and cultural identity from the 19th to early 20th century. This study reveals that the massif and Tijuca Forest were not merely natural landmarks but structuring vectors influencing territorial growth, social practices, and Carioca identity. The research identifies key factors guiding land use and transformation, demonstrating how urban development reflects a complex interplay of social, ecological, and political interactions. By analyzing historical processes, the study reframes the significance of green spaces in Rio de Janeiro as both biological and cultural heritage, illustrating their central role in the city's socio-environmental metabolism.

Time Architecture

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur — 2026 — WHE00568632DE

The Jantar Mantar observatories in Jaipur exemplify how ancient Hindu astronomy materialized solar cycles into architectural timekeeping, offering an alternative to Western gnomonics. This chapter reveals that the Sun's role as a temporal reference has been embedded in Earth–sky geometries for millennia, demonstrated through the observatory's intricate designs. By analyzing these structures alongside Vitruvius' De Architectura, it highlights the cross-cultural significance of solar-based time measurement and its enduring influence on cosmological architecture.

Timeless urban design: the 15-Minute City and Yazd’s historic Fahadan neighborhood

Historic City of Yazd — 2026 — WHE23ADE40A1A

Yazd’s historic Fahadan neighborhood embodies the principles of the 15-Minute City, demonstrating that traditional urban design can achieve modern sustainability goals. A GIS-based analysis revealed a compact, mixed-use morphology where 78.53% of residential areas are within a 5-minute walk of shops and 67.74% near green spaces, with proximity to religious and cultural amenities universally accessible in under 5 minutes. While educational and healthcare services showed lower accessibility—with some areas exceeding the 15-minute threshold—the findings highlight how traditional Iranian urbanism integrates climate-responsive, socially cohesive design without relying on modern infrastructure. This challenges the notion that the 15-Minute City is a contemporary innovation, instead positioning it as a timeless, context-sensitive approach to urban living.

Times of Execution, Transit and Use of the Palaeolithic Rock Art of the Cave of Altamira (Cantabria, Spain): A Case Study

Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain — 2026 — WHE6515552D5E

A new archaeological study of the Cave of Altamira reveals that Palaeolithic rock art in a specific topographic area of the cave was not created as a single event but evolved over time through distinct phases of creation, use, and transit. By analyzing superpositions, formal characteristics, and AMS dating of associated archaeological evidence, researchers have reconstructed a detailed chronology of human interactions with the cave art, providing insights into its 'biography' during the Palaeolithic period.

Tiwanaku in the Titicaca Basin and Its Expansion in the South-Central Andean Region

Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture — 2026 — WHE2E98026661

Recent research reveals that the Tiwanaku culture, through its unique political and religious ideology, achieved unprecedented integration of diverse societies across the south-central Andes during the Late Formative period (200 BC to 500 AD). By consolidating power around 500–600 AD, likely leveraging population migration from the Taraco Peninsula due to rising lake levels and strategic ideological and economic control, Tiwanaku established a four-tier hierarchical settlement system with itself at the apex. This study highlights how Tiwanaku employed religious, political, and economic mechanisms to exert hegemony over vast territories, while also acknowledging the agency of local societies within its sphere of influence. The findings underscore the dynamic nature of this phenomenon, shaping the Middle Horizon period in Andean archaeology.

To regulate or not to regulate: The destination management dilemma in handling the intensity of tourism

Historic Centre of Florence — 2026 — WHE9BE94D1F04

Regulatory measures can effectively mitigate tourism intensity, particularly when explicitly targeted at tourism. A study on the Historic Centre of Florence, Italyreveals that while tourism has driven economic growth, it has also led to resource exploitation and environmental degradation. Using a mixed-methods approach, researchers found a negative correlation between regulatory pressure and tourism intensity, with policies aimed at tourism showing the strongest impact. Notably, tourism intensity was unaffected by city tax levels but positively linked to inflation and hospitality rates. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers seeking to balance sustainable tourism development with the preservation of cultural heritage.

Tomomingi blicki Wesołowska, Russell-Smith & Danflous, 2026, sp. nov.

Sangha Trinational — 2026 — WHEDC31EC20EF

A new spider species, Tomomingi blicki, has been discovered within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sangha Trinational. This arachnid is distinguished by its unique male embolus shape and female epigyne with deeply sclerotized atria, setting it apart from related species like T. keinoi. The discovery was made through detailed morphological analysis of specimens collected from tree-holes in the understory of the Central African Republic's Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve and Dzanga-Ndoki National Park. The species is named in honor of Theo Blick, a prominent German arachnologist contributing to the World Spiders Catalog.

Topological and Fractal Modelling of Nagara Temple Architecture: A Comparative Mathematical Study of Kandariya Mahadeva and Konark Sun Temples

Sun Temple, Konârak — 2026 — WHE6C22587223

A novel mathematical framework for analyzing Nagara temple architecture, combining topology, graph theory, and fractal geometry, reveals distinct geometric patterns in the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple (Khajuraho) and Konark Sun Temple. The study introduces the Nagara Temple Geometric Index (NTGI), a normalized comparative metric integrating recursive geometry, spatial topology, and radial symmetry. While Kandariya Mahadeva exemplifies recursive vertical clustering, Konark’s design emphasizes radial organization and astronomical alignment. This interdisciplinary approach bridges mathematics, architecture, and computational heritage studies, offering reproducible methods for future validation through photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and image processing.

Touching Traces of the Past

Kronborg Castle — 2026 — WHE42EA09E7A4

Traces in heritage sites are not inert relics but dynamic, quasi-objective phenomena that scaffold narratives, generate immersive atmospheres, and invite affective engagement. The study introduces a three-axis taxonomy—intentionality, materiality, and temporality—to explain how material residues function as pathic affordances, attuning visitors to place and narrative through embodied and situated cognition. Case studies, including Kronborg Castle, reveal that the preservation, manipulation, or erasure of traces is an ethical act with profound implications for heritage practitioners, as these traces sustain narratives and memories, preventing heritage dissolution into the past.

Tourism and Intangible Heritage: Challenges and Strategic Responses in a UNESCO World Heritage Context

Ancient City of Nessebar — 2026 — WHE48E6030603

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ancient City of Nessebar, faces significant challenges from seasonal mass tourism that threaten its intangible cultural heritage. The study highlights that craft heritage and creative tourism can serve as powerful tools for community development, preserving local traditions while fostering economic growth. By analyzing municipal and national policies, researchers emphasize the importance of a 'living heritage' approach, where artisanal skills and cultural expressions are both economic resources and identity-strengthening mechanisms. The findings underscore the need for participatory governance to balance tourism growth with the resilience of living traditions, ensuring the safeguarding of Nessebar's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

Tourism in Telangana-Land of Culture and History

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana — 2026 — WHE8938AC10EC

Telangana's tourism sector has experienced significant growth, driven by proactive government initiatives and the global recognition of its cultural heritage. A pivotal moment was the inclusion of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, which elevated the state’s historical landmarks on the international stage. The study highlights Telangana's diverse attractions, ranging from religious sites like Yadadri Temple and Charminar to natural wonders such as Ananthagiri Hills and Golconda Fort. These destinations are celebrated for their unique architectural, historical, and cultural significance. Furthermore, the state’s official tourism portal, tourism.telangana.gov.in, serves as a comprehensive resource for both domestic and international visitors, streamlining access to information. Hyderabad, as the capital, acts as a hub for tourism promotion, with Charminar being one of its most iconic landmarks. The research underscores Telangana's emerging prominence as a tourist destination in India, blending heritage, culture, and natural beauty seamlessly.

Tourism infrastructure and physiological stress in free-ranging impalas (Aepyceros melampus) of Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park — 2026 — WHE2D394CF0DF

Large-scale tourism infrastructure in Serengeti National Park elevates physiological stress in free-ranging impalas (Aepyceros melampus), even when tourists are absent. Researchers measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) as a stress indicator, revealing significantly higher FGM levels in impalas near lodges compared to those near permanent tented camps or seasonal campsites. This suggests that the mere presence of substantial tourist facilities can induce stress in wildlife, posing potential risks to biodiversity. The study highlights the need for future research to identify specific infrastructure features driving this stress response, aiming to inform more sustainable tourism and conservation strategies.