World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 12621 – 12640 of 15962 publications

Land capability classification of Vernazza catchment, Cinque Terre National Park, Italy

Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) — 2020 — WHE55FE92ABFC

A land capability classification of the Vernazza catchment, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cinque Terre National Park, reveals that only 30% of the area is suitable for crop cultivation, but even these lands require meticulous management and conservation practices. The study leveraged a pedolandscape map, grounded in soil-landscape paradigms, to predict soil classes and their spatial distribution, which was then used to create a detailed land capability map at a 1:4000 scale. This approach highlights the severe limitations of most lands in the catchment, underscoring the need for sustainable territorial planning to balance agricultural use with conservation efforts in this historically terraced landscape.

Land Snails of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves — 2020 — WHE7A54C624EE

A survey of terrestrial gastropods in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, identified four land snail species: two endemics (Hyperaulax ridleyi and Ridleya quinquelirata) and two widespread species (Beckianum beckianum and Allopeas gracile). Hyperaulax ridleyi was the most abundant. This study provides critical baseline data for the conservation of these vulnerable, endemic species, marking a significant step toward developing future protection strategies for the archipelago's terrestrial biodiversity.

Land use/land cover assessment as related to soil and irrigation water salinity over an oasis in arid environment

Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape — 2020 — WHE807DEDD525

Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, faces significant land use/land cover (LULC) changes and salinity risks that threaten crop production and ecosystems. A study analyzing multitemporal Landsat data from 1986 to 2016 revealed substantial LULC shifts over three decades. Soil and irrigation water salinity were measured, showing higher electrical conductivity (ECe) in date palm areas compared to croplands and bare land. Critically, 94% of irrigation water samples exhibited moderate to severe salinity risk, highlighting urgent need for salinity management practices. The research underscores the importance of sustainable strategies to maintain crop yields, improve soil health, and mitigate environmental impacts on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Land-use and cultivation in theetaghasof the Tadrart Acacus (south-west Libya): the dawn of Saharan agriculture?

Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus — 2020 — WHEE18FFFA7C2

Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tadrart Acacus reveals that ancient pastoralist communities likely pioneered flood-recession agriculture around 4,000 years ago, long before modern Tuareg practices. Geoarchaeological and archaeological evidence, combined with radiocarbon dating and rock art analysis, suggests that late prehistoric Pastoral Neolithic groups exploited temporary water pools (etaghas) in wadi beds to supplement their pastoral subsistence. This challenges the notion that permanent agriculture was impossible in the hyperarid Sahara, indicating an early adaptation to Saharan environmental conditions.

Land, livelihoods and belonging: negotiating change and anticipating LAPSSET in Kenya’s Lamu county

Lamu Old Town — 2020 — WHE2D4F2E0502

A study on Lamu Old Town reveals that the future of large-scale infrastructure projects like LAPSSET is more influenced by complex economies of anticipation—such as patronage networks and political alliances—than by official designs. Contrary to narratives portraying Northern Kenya as 'backward' or 'empty,' the research demonstrates that local perceptions of land, ethnicity, and belonging shape how resources and benefits will be distributed. The findings highlight the critical role of pre-existing social dynamics in determining access to opportunities within major development initiatives.

Landscape design in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: Transition of the design by Kenzo Tange

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) — 2020 — WHEE77AC85CEB

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park's landscape design, shaped by Kenzo Tange, employs a striking contrast between its southern and northern sections to both honor atomic bomb victims and symbolize peace. The study analyzed Tange's proposals from 1949–1955 and 1970–1973, revealing his evolving treatment of the park's north-south axis as a central element in its hourglass-like layout. This design choice underscores the park's dual purpose: commemorating tragedy while fostering global peace.

Landscape Imaginaries and the Protection of Dynamic Nature at the Wadden Sea

Wadden Sea — 2020 — WHE53F3B4F1D4

Conservation efforts at the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, despite advancing beyond traditional nature-culture dichotomies in academic discourse, still grapple with maintaining rigid distinctions between natural and cultural landscapes. This study reveals that a conservation philosophy aimed at protecting dynamic natural processes is hindered by the persistence of these categorical boundaries. By employing the concept of 'landscape imaginaries,' the research analyzes situated understandings of landscape and nature-culture relations, highlighting how essentialist views of nature can limit effective protected area management in rapidly changing environments. The findings advocate for a more place-based, situated approach to conservation that embraces the fluidity of nature and culture.

Landscape management and polyculture in the ancient gardens and fields at Joya de Cerén, El Salvador

Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site — 2020 — WHEC3BB3C1994

Exceptional preservation of the Late Classic Maya village Joya de Cerén, buried by the Loma Caldera eruption around 660 CE, offers a unique window into ancient Mesoamerican agricultural practices. Research reveals that villagers employed polyculture farming, combining fruit trees, annual and root crops, fiber plants, and weedy species in productive house-lot gardens and extensive outfields. This diversified approach ensured a nutritionally rich diet, as evidenced by the recovery of maize, manioc, squash, common beans, and other economically useful species through intensive paleoethnobotanical methods. The study underscores the sophisticated landscape management strategies used by ancient inhabitants to maximize food production and sustainability.

Landscapes and Ethnicity: An Historical Archaeology of Khami-Phase Sites in Southwestern Zimbabwe

Khami Ruins National Monument — 2020 — WHED453E7F006

A groundbreaking analysis of Khami-phase sites in southwestern Zimbabwe reveals that radiocarbon dating can validate oral traditions and documentary sources, offering new insights into the Rozvi dynasty's past. By comparing dates from three ancient capitals—Danamombe, Naletale, and Zinjanja—the study provides a more precise archaeological timeline for these historically significant sites. This approach sheds light on the rise and spread of Khami-phase settlements, addressing long-standing questions about their dynastic and ethnolinguistic formations.

Landscapes of production and punishment: LiDAR and the process of feature identification and analysis at a Tasmanian convict station

Australian Convict Sites — 2020 — WHEA4945FEA1B

LiDAR technology significantly enhances the identification and analysis of archaeological features, offering unprecedented insights into historical landscapes. This study demonstrates its efficacy in repopulating convict labor landscapes with people and processes, particularly within Australian bush settings. By integrating LiDAR from the outset, researchers uncovered detailed spatial patterns at the Cascades probation station (1842–1855), revealing how convicts interacted with their environment during the 19th century. The findings underscore LiDAR's potential to transform historical archaeology in Australia, providing a more nuanced understanding of past labor and punishment systems.

Landscapes of Punishment and Resistance: A Female Convict Settlement in Tasmania, Australia

Australian Convict Sites — 2020 — WHE4F0A193B31

A female convict settlement in Tasmania, Australia, exemplified the spatial dynamics of penal domination and inmate resistance. The study reveals that inmates strategically circumvented institutional boundaries to maintain connections with relatives outside the prison perimeter, while authorities selectively granted privileges based on hierarchical relationships. The research focuses on the Ross Female Factory, where locales were spatially and temporally organized to reinforce power structures among both staff and inmates. By analyzing a intercepted letter and institutional reactions, it demonstrates how convicts intentionally challenged disciplinary boundaries, offering insights into the complex interplay of punishment and resistance in 19th-century penal landscapes.

Language, Formulae, and Carolingian Reforms: The Case of the Alemannic Charters from St Gall

Abbey of St Gall — 2020 — WHED63C02D6CD

Carolingian reforms significantly impacted literacy and script development in early medieval Alemannia, as evidenced by the linguistic analysis of over 800 Alemannic charters from St Gall. The study reveals that while 'Merovingian' Latin features in these documents often stemmed from common formulae rather than vernacular influence, certain charters showed clear signs of vernacular interference, particularly early Romance or Germanic idioms. This suggests a nuanced relationship between written Latin and spoken languages during this period. The research also highlights the scarcity of actual vernacular words in the charters, providing insights into the spread of literacy and script evolution. By distinguishing between monastic and non-monastic scribes, the study offers a detailed picture of institutional versus local literacy practices.

Last Interglacial changes in sea level on Aldabra, western Indian Ocean

Aldabra Atoll — 2020 — WHEB1908D3796

Aldabra Atoll's Pleistocene limestones reveal more complex sea-level dynamics during the Last Interglacial period than previously understood. Contrary to earlier models, sedimentological analysis shows significant variation, including reversals in sea-level trends that caused both depositional pauses and erosion during rises, as well as stillstands and erosion during falls. These findings challenge the traditional view of a rapid rise followed by gradual fall towards the Last Glacial Maximum's low sea levels. The study identifies key indicators such as coral morphology changes, discontinuities within depositional sequences, and biofacies shifts to explain radiometric age inconsistencies, while questioning the broader implications for interglacial cycles and their mechanisms.

Late Eocene–Oligocene High Relief Paleotopography in the North Central Tibetan Plateau: Insights From Detrital Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotope Studies

Qinghai Hoh Xil — 2020 — WHE567C38D26D

A new study reveals that the Hoh Xil Basin on the north central Tibetan Plateau experienced high relief paleotopography during the late Eocene to Oligocene, with source regions reaching elevations of approximately 4 kilometers. This discovery challenges traditional models of plateau growth by demonstrating a transition from foreland to hinterland basin, driven by northward propagation of upper crustal shortening and deep tectonic processes. Researchers used detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and leaf wax hydrogen isotope analysis on sediments from the Yaxicuo Group in the Tuotuohe subbasin. The study suggests that these sediments were primarily sourced from the northern Qiangtang and Songpan-Ganzi terranes, with distinct age spectra indicating a watershed formation within the basin.

Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic maritime resilience? The 4.2 ka BP event and its implications for environments and societies in Northwest Europe

Heart of Neolithic Orkney — 2020 — WHEC78D2F55FE

A significant population decline occurred on the Orkney Islands around 2300 BC, coinciding with the 4.2 ka BP climatic event, which likely caused regionally varied changes in humidity and temperature across Northwest Europe. This study reveals that while some communities adapted by developing new food storage and house-building techniques, others faced substantial demographic shifts. The research also highlights the emergence of a maritime Early Bronze Age culture, characterized by interconnected exchange networks, suggesting resilience to climate change through cultural innovation.

Late-Holocene vegetation change reveals the environment of ancient people and the origin of Huashan cliff paintings in Guangxi, southwestern China

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape — 2020 — WHE1FD31C321E

A pollen record from the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape reveals that mixed broad-leaf and conifer forests dominated the region during the period of cliff painting creation (2370–2115 cal. yr BP), providing key materials for ancient artworks. The study suggests that a humid climate facilitated human activities, while short-term droughts may have triggered social instability, including warfare. This research highlights the interplay between environmental conditions and human civilization in southwestern China, emphasizing the need to integrate natural and socio-political analyses to understand ancient cultural practices.

Le caractère ambivalent de la relation entre tourisme et patrimoine en pays Bassari (Sénégal)

Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula and Bedik Cultural Landscapes — 2020 — WHE6C93C4364B

Tourism in the Bassari Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, presents both opportunities and challenges for local communities. While cultural tourism, ecotourism, and integrated rural tourism can drive local development and protect natural and cultural heritage, they also risk destabilizing traditional ways of life. A study led by Gaye (2020) analyzed these dynamics through surveys, interviews, and long-term observations, highlighting the need to balance tourism growth with the preservation of Bassari traditions and ecosystems.

Le Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche). Le Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay — 2020 — WHED18B5C772D

Archaeological excavations on Mont-Saint-Michel reveal significant insights into the evolution of the village, particularly during its restoration phase. The study, part of a seven-year project, focuses on the Great Street and alleys, accompanying infrastructure upgrades initiated in 1913. By analyzing successive tranches, researchers aim to document the site's transformation over time, providing a detailed historical context for its preservation efforts.

Le mura di Cartagena de Indias tra sperimentazione metodologica e protocolli operativi. Strumentazioni digitali a confronto per lo studio del sistema difensivo antonelliano

Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena — 2020 — WHEC048489EE3

Research comparing digital tools for studying Cartagena de Indias' Antonelli defense system reveals that mobile laser scanning with SLAM technology provides the most efficient and reliable method for documenting fortifications. The study, conducted by the Lab DAda-LAB at the University of Pavia, analyzed the perimeter walls and Fort San Felipe de Barajas, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach for rapid survey activities. Additionally, a detailed comparison of different data acquisition technologies on the Baluarte of Santa Catalina walls confirmed the reliability of 3D databases generated by these methods. The findings contribute to the development of analysis protocols for heritage enhancement and protection, offering insights into the construction technologies of Cartagena's historic fortifications.

Le patrimoine subaquatique du lac Titicaca, Bolivie

Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture — 2020 — WHE4D71EB4DEF

A groundbreaking study challenges the traditional view of pre-Hispanic societies around Lake Titicaca, revealing their deep integration with lacustrine environments. Contrary to being solely 'cultures of the land,' these societies developed sophisticated practices akin to 'cultures of the sea,' including navigation and ritual offerings. The research introduces a novel concept of a 'lacustrine cultural landscape' for the Tiwanaku period (500-1150 AD), demonstrating how Lake Titicaca influenced political, socio-cultural, and ritual dynamics. By synthesizing terrestrial and underwater archaeological data, the study offers a comprehensive reinterpretation of Tiwanaku culture, emphasizing the lake's pivotal role in shaping societal evolution.