World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 12881 – 12900 of 15962 publications

On the presence of the African catfish Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) Siluriformes Clariidae) in south-eastern Algeria (Ifni-Illizi)

Tassili n'Ajjer — 2020 — WHEE016AC1E04

A significant discovery of the African catfish Clarias anguillaris (Linnaeus, 1758) in Guelta Ifni, Tassili n'Ajjer National Park, southeastern Algeria, was documented through experimental fisheries in August 2019. This finding expands the known distribution of the species on the African continent and updates the inventory of freshwater fish in southern Algeria. The study analyzed 16 morphometric variables and three meristic traits from two male specimens to confirm the identification, reinforcing its status as a Least Concern (LC) taxon on the IUCN Red List. This research contributes to broader biodiversity mapping efforts by providing new locality data for this widespread but understudied species.

On the Raw Materials in the Ceramic Workshops of Jerusalem, Before and After 70 c.e.

Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls — 2020 — WHE4695DBAF28

A significant shift in ceramic production techniques and raw materials occurred in Jerusalem's pottery workshops following the city's destruction in 70 c.e. Petrographic analysis of 129 ceramics revealed that post-70 c.e., Jewish potters introduced new vessel types (e.g., dolia, mortaria) and building materials (roof tiles, bricks), using a distinct geological unit and intentionally adding quartz grains to enhance product toughness. This change likely reflects the workshops' transition under Roman military control, offering insights into their evolving production methods and potential links to other regional sites.

On the source “composition” of the bronze vessels in the burials of the Yinxu site

Yin Xu — 2020 — WHE062461BDA4

Bronze vessels from burials at the Yinxu site exhibit distinct 'source compositions,' revealing two primary types: single-sourced and multiple-sourced. This discovery challenges traditional analyses focused on 'assemblages' by emphasizing the origin, distribution, and social context of bronzes. The study analyzed key burials, including M303 at Dasikong, M1713 in the West Zone, Fu Hao's tomb, and M1046 at Liujiazhuang Locus North, demonstrating that multiple-sourced compositions vary based on social backgrounds and relationships among burial occupants. This approach offers new insights into the social dynamics and craftsmanship of Bronze Age societies.

Once Again: Who Captured Masada? On Doublets, Reading Against the Grain, and What Josephus Actually Wrote

Masada — 2020 — WHED49D13E709

A critical reassessment of Josephus' account reveals that Masada was captured by Jewish rebels, not Romans, during the First Jewish-Roman War (66 CE). The study challenges traditional interpretations by closely analyzing two conflicting passages in Josephus' 'War': one describing a Roman storming of Masada (2.408) and another attributing its capture to Eleazar ben Jair and the Sicarii (7.297). By avoiding overreliance on source-criticism or compositional analysis, the research demonstrates that Josephus' narrative is consistent when read contextually—both passages refer to Jewish rebels capturing Masada from Roman forces, with no actual doublet or intentional omission. This approach underscores the importance of contextual reading in historical texts.

Open access web mapping as a virtual survey tool for cultural heritage: an application to the Armenian religious architecture documented by Paolo Cuneo

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin — 2020 — WHE5B8178B950

A recent study highlights the potential of open access web mapping as a powerful virtual survey tool for assessing and monitoring cultural heritage sites, particularly those vulnerable to natural hazards like earthquakes. The research demonstrates how interdisciplinary integration of ICT tools can enhance conservation efforts by providing restorers and structural engineers with accessible, graphical data representations. Focusing on the Monastery of Haghpat in Armenia, the study evaluates user perspectives on these platforms, drawing from the legacy of architect Paolo Cuneo's documentation work. By leveraging modern web-based mapping technologies, the research offers a practical approach to risk management for historical and architectural assets, bridging traditional expertise with contemporary digital solutions.

Open Museum as a Tool for Culture Sustainability: Prambanan Temple Study Case

Prambanan Temple Compounds — 2020 — WHE77377F509C

The concept of the open museum is proposed as an effective tool for maintaining urban heritage, preserving history and culture, and fostering sustainable tourism. A case study on Prambanan Temple Complex demonstrates its potential to balance rapid urban development with cultural preservation. The research suggests that designating historical areas as protected open museums can safeguard heritage while supporting tourism, even in the context of significant religious activities like Hajj and Umrah in Mecca. This approach offers a sustainable model for integrating cultural heritage into modern urban planning.

Operating the Square Kilometre Array: the world’s most data intensive telescope

Jodrell Bank Observatory — 2020 — WHE3C4B6CB18F

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world's largest radio observatory, will generate unprecedented data volumes when fully operational. This study outlines its operational model, highlighting challenges for globally distributed operations and workforce requirements for engineering maintenance. The SKA consists of two telescopes—one in Australia (50-350 MHz) and another in South Africa (0.35-15 GHz)—with Jodrell Bank Observatory serving as the global headquarters. Researchers modeled staffing needs to ensure efficient telescope operation, emphasizing collaboration with a network of Regional Centres to support scientific users. This work provides critical insights for managing one of the most data-intensive research infrastructures globally.

Opportunities and challenges for restoration of the Merced River through Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, USA

Yosemite National Park — 2020 — WHE02188480A6

A century of human disturbances along the Merced River in Yosemite National Park has created long-term consequences for riverine conditions, hindering natural recovery through passive restoration. Key findings indicate that reduced sediment influx—due to historical gravel mining and altered fluvial processes—and intensive visitor use have decoupled the river from its floodplain, damaged riparian zones, and distorted channel dynamics. Climate change may further amplify these challenges by both diminishing fluvial processes and increasing sediment export rates. The study integrates geomorphic, hydrological, and human-impact analyses to highlight the complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic factors shaping river restoration opportunities in this iconic landscape.

Opportunity for Thailand's forgotten tigers: assessment of the Indochinese tiger Panthera tigris corbetti and its prey with camera-trap surveys

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex — 2020 — WHED7C3E41006

Thailand's Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex is identified as one of the few remaining breeding locations for the Endangered Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), with camera-trap surveys revealing at least 16 adult tigers and six cubs/juveniles from four breeding females over a decade-long study. The research, spanning five protected areas, found significant variation in tiger and prey detection rates, suggesting that tiger distribution may be influenced by the availability of key prey species. This study highlights the critical role of this landscape in tiger conservation, providing urgent insights for South-east Asian tiger recovery efforts.

Optimal Sizing and Scheduling of Hybrid Energy Systems: The Cases of Morona Santiago and the Galapagos Islands

Galápagos Islands — 2020 — WHEEA0A361975

Hybrid energy systems (HESs) combining photovoltaic (PV), wind, diesel, and battery technologies offer economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions for electrifying isolated communities. For the Galápagos Islandsan optimal HES configuration of PV-wind-battery achieves a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.36 $/kWh, outperforming other setups in both economic and environmental terms. In contrast, Morona Santiago’s tropical forest setting benefits most from a PV-diesel-battery system with an LCOE of 0.37 $/kWh. This study applies mathematical programming to assess techno-economic feasibility, demonstrating HESs' potential to reduce fossil fuel dependence in rural Ecuador while providing a scalable decision-support tool for similar projects globally.

Optimal visual perception in land-use planning and design based on landsenses ecology

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement — 2020 — WHECFF0D7EF40

Researchers have identified optimal visual perception parameters that can guide sustainable land-use planning and design (LPD) by aligning human perception with natural elements. The study combines conventional optical theory and contemporary visualization technology, integrating binocular visual angles, distance, and cell phone camera field of view to determine an ideal perceptual framework. Three case studies—Institute of Urban Environmental (IUE), Welcoming-Guests Pine on Huangshan Mountain, and Sunlight Rock of Gulangyu Island—demonstrate how landscapes that meet these criteria enhance harmony with human perception, while those that do not exhibit spatial chaos. The findings provide actionable insights for planners, architects, and sustainability scholars to create more cohesive and resource-efficient designs.

Options for Preservation of Village Space in Bac Ninh’s Central Urban Area (with Reference to the Preservation Model of Hahoe Village in Korea)

Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong — 2020 — WHEEE36C06F3E

Most villages in Bac Ninh’s central urban area retain their traditional forms, offering potential for preservation that balances cultural heritage with modern urban development. The study identifies key elements to preserve—natural landscapes, cultural characteristics, public works, and ancient architecture—and proposes flexible conservation methods inspired by Korea’s Hahoe Village model. These include maintaining the status quo of residential and community spaces while integrating practical experience programs for locals and tourists, leveraging local governance through associations like the Association for Conservation of Traditional Villages.

Oral Processing Behavior of Diana Monkeys (Cercopithecus diana) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

Taï National Park — 2020 — WHE715FB37B4A

Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, do not rely on difficult-to-process foods when preferred fruits are scarce. Instead, they maintain a diet of relatively easy-to-process items year-round, even as fruit availability fluctuates. The study analyzed 11,906 feeding events, revealing that invertebrates required the least oral processing, followed by fruits and leaves. Preferred fruits were processed with fewer mastications than nonpreferred ones, despite no direct link between fruit preference and availability. This behavior may stem from Taï Forest’s high tree diversity and productivity, offering a stable food source without clear fallback options. The research combined focal follows (2016–2017) with phenological surveys (2004–2009) to document dietary shifts and processing behaviors.

Organic Matter Clogging Results in Undeveloped Hardpan and Soil Mineral Leakage in the Rice Terraces in the Philippine Cordilleras

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras — 2020 — WHEE1C70F077B

A critical threat to the UNESCO-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras—flooded paddies at risk of collapse due to excessive water infiltration—has been linked to organic matter clogging rather than the intended hardpan formation. Research reveals that high organic matter content, which suppresses water drainage, leads to reductive soil conditions and mineral leaching (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, manganese). Field surveys and soil analysis demonstrated that undeveloped hardpans, combined with organic buildup, hinder terrace stability while depleting essential nutrients. Unlike hardpan formation, organic clogging is invisible from the surface, complicating management. The study advocates for pre-planting hard layer checks and post-crop drainage during the rainy season to mitigate risks while sustaining traditional farming practices.

Origins of the sarsen megaliths at Stonehenge

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites — 2020 — WHE79862C034E

New geochemical evidence reveals that the massive sarsen megaliths at Stonehenge likely originated from West Woods, Wiltshire. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about their source and sheds light on Neolithic transportation practices. Researchers analyzed trace elements in stone samples using advanced techniques, including laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The findings suggest that the stones were quarried locally, transported over significant distances, and shaped with remarkable precision—implying sophisticated engineering capabilities during the late Neolithic period.

Ornithological discovery, exploration, and research on the Auckland Islands, New Zealand subantarctic

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands — 2020 — WHE0C2DF27C45

Despite being the most researched and largest island group in New Zealand's subantarctic region, the Auckland Islands have lacked a comprehensive ornithological review. A database of 23,028 bird records from 1807 to 2019 reveals that over 76% of these observations remain unpublished, with significant contributions from historical expeditions like the Heritage Expedition and the Second World War Cape Expedition. The Auckland Islands host a high number of endemic bird taxa but have received limited research attention compared to other subantarctic islands, focusing primarily on large surface-nesting seabird species. Citizen science platforms, such as eBird, are emerging as valuable sources of data, with 1,597 unique records, and new vagrant species continue to be documented rapidly. This study highlights the gaps in ornithological research on the Auckland Islands while underscoring the potential of historical and citizen-science data to advance our understanding of its avifauna.

Othonna koos-bekkeri, a new succulent shrub from northern Namaqualand and southern Richtersveld, (N. Cape Province, South Africa)

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape — 2020 — WHE54C4A0B146

A new succulent shrub species, Othonna koos-bekkeri, has been identified in the mountains of northern Namaqualand and southern Richtersveld, South Africa. This discovery resolves long-standing confusion with its smaller relative, Othonna arbuscula, by highlighting distinct morphological features such as ascending rod-like stems, lateral spur-shoots, and sub-umbellate yellow flower heads that bloom leafless during autumn. The study, published in Bradleya, relied on field observations and taxonomic analysis to distinguish the new species within the Succulent Karoo Biome, contributing to the region's botanical diversity.

Out of India, thrice: diversification of Asian forest scorpions reveals three colonizations of Southeast Asia

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka — 2020 — WHE14AB761C4B

A groundbreaking study on Asian forest scorpions challenges the traditional 'Out of India' hypothesis, revealing three distinct colonization events into Southeast Asia during the Cenozoic era. By integrating divergence time estimation, ancestral range analysis, and diversification modeling, researchers traced the evolutionary journey of Heterometrinae scorpions from their African origins through the Cretaceous to their current distribution across South and Southeast Asia. The findings indicate that environmental stresses during the KT mass extinction led to range contractions in southern India and Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, followed by three dispersal events as the Indian subcontinent collided with Eurasia. This study not only refines our understanding of scorpion biogeography but also provides a framework for interpreting the complex dispersal patterns of other taxa in this biodiverse region.

Outils stratégiques et techniques pour la conservation des sites archéologiques en terre

State Historical and Cultural Park “Ancient Merv” — 2020 — WHE720395F6B5

The State Historical and Cultural Park 'Ancient Merv' presents a unique record of urban settlement spanning four millennia, with its cities and monuments offering unparalleled insights into architectural evolution, technological advancements, and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. The site's significance lies in its preserved Bronze Age centers, Seljuk mausolea—including the masterpiece Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar—and characteristic corrugated mudbrick structures, all vulnerable to ecological change. Strategic conservation efforts, documented since the late 19th century, highlight Merv's role as a technological and intellectual hub, associated with figures like Omar Khayyam and Yaqut al-Khamavi. The study emphasizes the need for urgent preservation due to irreversible environmental impacts.

Outsiders in the periphery: studies of the peripheralisation of low income housing in Ahmedabad and Chennai, India

Historic City of Ahmadabad — 2020 — WHE93B1CD988B

Residents of formal low-income housing on urban peripheries experience multifaceted disconnection, rendering them 'outsiders in the periphery.' This dynamic is driven by three key factors: the lack of resident involvement in housing production due to pre-built units, spatial isolation limiting mobility and socioeconomic opportunities, and substandard infrastructure that hinders place-making. The study, based on mixed-method fieldwork in Ahmedabad and Chennai, challenges conventional narratives around urban peripheralization, which typically focus on high-end or informal settlements. It reveals how formal low-income housing, increasingly constructed on isolated sites, fails to integrate residents socially or spatially, undermining the inclusive potential of affordable urban development.