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Showing 15721 – 15740 of 15962 publications

Forts and Landscape on the Southwest Border of Roman Dacia

Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia — 2011 — WHE605ED33F17

A comprehensive survey of the southwest border of Roman Dacia reveals significant insights into the landscape and strategic placement of Roman forts. Researchers from Babeş-Bolyai University employed advanced methods to record GPS coordinates, fort characteristics, and landscape features, providing detailed maps and textual analysis. This study enhances our understanding of the Roman Empire's frontier dynamics in Dacia, offering a nuanced perspective on how these structures integrated with their surrounding environment.

From pseudo‐3D to full‐resolution GPR imaging of a complex Roman site

Roman Walls of Lugo — 2011 — WHE24FF1D8ED4

A high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the Roman Walls of Lugo, Spain, revealed intricate details of a Roman villa previously obscured by a pseudo-3D imaging strategy. The study demonstrated that ultra-dense grid data acquisition—with GPR lines spaced just 0.1 meters apart—could capture fine structures such as walls, apses, and chambers with unprecedented clarity. Initial surveys in May 2007 used a more spaced grid (0.5 m), which only identified broad areas of interest. A follow-up survey in July 2008, focusing on a smaller area with ultra-dense sampling, uncovered the villa's full architectural complexity. This case highlights how advanced GPR techniques can significantly enhance archaeological interpretations in complex semi-urban environments.

Geophysical prospection of a bronze foundry on the southern slope of the acropolis at athens, Greece

Acropolis, Athens — 2011 — WHE6AB641D254

A geophysical survey of the Acropolis's southern slope in Athens, Greece, has uncovered evidence of additional bronze production pits, shedding new light on ancient manufacturing processes. The study, conducted in 2010, employed magnetometry (MAG), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to map subsurface anomalies. Two major pits were identified: one previously excavated, whose extent was outlined, and another newly detected oval-shaped pit measuring 8–10 meters in length, 2–3 meters in width, and 2.5 meters deep, featuring steep vertical walls and possible entrances. Virtual models generated from LiDAR scans of the excavated pit aided interpretation, confirming the new pit as part of a bronze foundry complex. These findings prompt further excavations to explore this ancient production site.

Grasshoppers of the Andes: new Melanoplinae and Gomphocerinae taxa (Insecta, Orthoptera, Acrididae) from Huascarán National Park and Callejón de Huaylas, Ancash, Peru

Huascarán National Park — 2011 — WHE683F2AB1C1

A study published in Zoosystema (2011) reports the discovery of two new grasshopper taxa, belonging to the subfamilies Melanoplinae and Gomphocerinae, from Huascarán National Park and Callejón de Huaylas in Peru. These findings contribute to the understanding of orthopteran biodiversity in the Andes, a region with limited entomological research. The study employed morphological analysis, including detailed examination of genital structures, to distinguish these new taxa. This research highlights the importance of Huascarán National Park as a hotspot for grasshopper diversity and underscores the need for further exploration of Peru's high-altitude ecosystems.

Hearth and Household Economy in an Andean Village

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu — 2011 — WHEAD895CAF2B

In the rural village within Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, fuel collection and hearth activity are pivotal cultural practices that sustain household production and reproduction. The study reveals that the physical hearth is spatially fluid, serving as a material and symbolic center throughout the household's life cycle. All members, from children to the elderly, participate in fuel collection, redefining household composition. Wood collection connects houses to uncultivated landscapes, fostering reciprocal labor networks and community festivals. Gendered and intergenerational divisions of labor result in four distinct types of collection trips involving different plant species, wood sizes, and source ecosystems. However, increased tourism at Machu Picchu is altering daily and seasonal labor patterns, with men and women engaging in tourism work and children being educated in town. These changes are leading to a more mobile hearth as houses improve, significantly impacting traditional labor dynamics.

Highway construction and protection of sichuan giant panda sanctuaries

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains — 2011 — WHEB479A48AA3

A planned highway threatens the authenticity and integrity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, by passing through its buffer or core zones. The study highlights significant environmental stress and ecological impacts during construction and operation phases. To mitigate these effects, the research proposes specialized management measures aimed at reducing adverse consequences on this critical habitat for giant pandas.

Historical GIS as a Platform for Public Memory at Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park — 2011 — WHE5B8509C6B0

A historical GIS platform for Mammoth Cave National Park reveals the landscape's transition from a farming community to a protected national park, preserving public memory of its pre-park inhabitants. The Mammoth Cave Historical GIS (MCHGIS) overlays 1920 census data at the household level with streaming topographic maps and georeferences Civilian Conservation Corps photographs, enabling visualization and analysis of population dynamics on the eve of park establishment. This web-based interface broadens access to archival holdings while integrating public participation GIS techniques to create a virtual site of public memory, supplementing institutional history with privately donated materials.

Human-wildlife conflict in and around the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Simien National Park — 2011 — WHE76AEFF3842

Human-wildlife conflict in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, is primarily driven by common jackals, which cause significant problems for local communities, accounting for 57.1% of reported conflicts. Spotted hyenas also pose a threat, with 27% of respondents reporting livestock losses. The study, conducted through surveys of 300 people in 2005 and 2006, found that grazing and firewood collection within the park were negatively correlated with distance from the park, indicating proximity as a key factor in conflict. The research highlights the need for voluntary resettlement of communities near wildlife habitats and alternative resource provision to mitigate conflicts.

Impact of coastal environmental conditions on building materials of The Roman Theater at the archaeological site of Sabratha, Libya.

Archaeological Site of Sabratha — 2011 — WHEC934E06F51

Coastal environmental conditions significantly impact the durability of building materials at Sabratha's Roman Theater, leading to structural degradation such as collapsing and disintegration. The study reveals that limestone, marble, and mortars used in the theater's construction undergo alterations due to exposure to coastal elements. Analytical techniques like XRD, XRF, PM, and SEM were employed to identify mineral composition and its changes, alongside evaluating physio-mechanical properties. These findings highlight the vulnerability of monumental structures in harsh coastal environments, offering insights into preservation challenges for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Integrated Plant Record (IPR) Vegetation Analysis Applied to Modern Vegetation in South China and Japan

Shirakami-Sanchi — 2011 — WHEB1EADD83E2

Modern vegetation analysis using the Integrated Plant Record (IPR) technique reveals distinct underrepresentation of zonal herbs in fossil records, challenging traditional classification methods. The study, conducted across South China and Japan—including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Shirakami-Sanchi—validates key zonal woody angiosperm groups but identifies a need for refined ecotone definitions and broader herb diversity inclusion. Findings suggest higher zonal herb diversity in broad-leaved deciduous forests compared to evergreen counterparts, aligning with Neogene European records. This research enhances understanding of vegetation dynamics by refining IPR analysis, offering new insights into fossil-based reconstructions.

Invasive species and bushmeat hunting contributing to wildlife conservation: the case of feral pigs in a Neotropical wetland

Pantanal Conservation Area — 2011 — WHEB3453A10E6

In the Brazilian Pantanal, feral pigs serve as a crucial buffer against bushmeat hunting of native wildlife, offering a culturally acceptable and readily available meat source. This study reveals that feral pigs are the primary hunting target in this Neotropical wetland, where human populations rarely hunt native species due to their scarcity or inaccessibility. Researchers used exploratory surveys, semi-structured interviews, skull collections, tooth wear analysis, and hunting registers to assess hunting patterns. While feral pigs mitigate hunting pressure on native wildlife, their ecological impacts remain uncertain, highlighting a complex conservation dilemma in non-protected areas.

Investigating diversity dependence of tropical forest litter decomposition: experiments and observations from Central Africa

Dja Faunal Reserve — 2011 — WHE07A5D3CBEF

Research in the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, reveals that litter decomposition rates in tropical forests are more influenced by the quality of dominant litter species than by forest diversity itself. The study found that decomposition in mixed-species forests was four times faster than in monodominant forests, primarily due to the prevalence of low-quality Gilbertiodendron dewevrei litter. While high-quality bay leaves decomposed significantly faster than low-quality G. dewevrei leaves, mixing litter types accelerated decomposition for G. dewevrei, suggesting a diversity-dependent effect. The findings challenge the assumption that tree species diversity alone drives decomposition rates, highlighting the critical role of litter quality in ecosystem functioning.

Khami and the Venda in the Mapungubwe Landscape

Khami Ruins National Monument — 2011 — WHE034146DC2E

Archaeological research at Khami Ruins National Monument reveals significant differences between the 15th–16th century Khami occupation and the later Venda period. Unlike the 19th-century Venda capitals, which housed around 350 people in dense chiefdoms, the earlier Khami phase supported thousands living on cattle posts and agricultural villages under more consistent rainfall. The study also documents a gradual cultural shift, with the Venda-speaking Machete chiefdom acculturating into Sotho-speaking groups by the time Mapungubwe was discovered in the 1930s. This work sheds light on the dynamic social and environmental changes in the Mapungubwe landscape, combining archaeological evidence with historical analysis to reconstruct past settlement patterns and cultural transitions.

Labour Migration and Gendered Agricultural Relations: The Feminization of Agriculture in the Ejidal Sector of Calakmul, Mexico

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche — 2011 — WHE84CF97C9E7

Male labor migration to the United States has significantly reshaped agricultural dynamics and gender roles in the ejidal sector of Calakmul, Mexico. Research reveals that while men's out-migration increases women's participation in farm labor, it also alters land tenure, decision-making, and management of hired labor, highlighting a 'feminization' of agriculture with nuanced impacts on local production relations. The study, based on a 2007 survey of 155 households across six ejidos and ethnographic fieldwork, underscores the need to distinguish between farm labor and management in semi-subsistence systems. Findings suggest that migration-driven gender shifts in agricultural roles are both substantial and context-specific, offering insights into the broader implications of rural out-migration on smallholder livelihoods.

Landscape change in the lower Omo valley, southwestern Ethiopia: burning patterns and woody encroachment in the savanna

Lower Valley of the Omo — 2011 — WHEA5B238074D

A study of the Lower Omo Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Ethiopia, reveals that bush encroachment in the savanna—driven by changes in fire and grazing practices—is not as directly linked to these factors as previously assumed. While Mursi agro-pastoralists attribute grassland loss over the past 30–40 years to increased human and livestock populations, more permanent settlements, and altered burning patterns (shifting from large, infrequent fires to small, frequent ones), ecological surveys found no strong causal relationship between fire, grazing, and encroachment. Additional pressures, such as state restrictions on mobility due to national park establishment, also contribute significantly to landscape change. The research underscores the complexity of savanna dynamics, suggesting that while anthropogenic factors play a role, they may not be the sole drivers of woody encroachment in this region.

Laser Scanning the Past for the Future: Baalbek Temple

Baalbek — 2011 — WHE8A53F2A9D9

A three-dimensional survey of Baalbek's archaeological site, employing laser scanning and photogrammetric techniques, has successfully identified critical hazards and threats affecting the UNESCO World Heritage Property. This approach, part of a capacity-building initiative funded by UNESCO following Lebanon's 2006 war, enabled the development of a risk preparedness strategy (RPS) to safeguard the site's significance and integrity. The multidisciplinary collaboration involving experts from Lebanon, Taiwan, and Belgium demonstrated the efficacy of advanced digital documentation in mitigating risks to cultural heritage.

Les enjeux de la conservation d’un patrimoine matériel vivant : le cas du patrimoine archéologique péruvien

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu — 2011 — WHE9D473CC725

Peruvian archaeological heritage faces significant threats from both natural and anthropogenic factors, which hinder the preservation of national assets and ancestral knowledge. This study highlights key challenges using three Inca sites—Sacred Sanctuary of Pachacamac, Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman, and Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu—as case examples. The research employs a comparative approach to analyze these threats, emphasizing their impact on cultural heritage conservation. Findings underscore the need for integrated strategies that balance protection with sustainable management, drawing attention to the delicate interplay between preservation efforts and the living nature of archaeological sites.

Long bone microstructure gives new insights into the life of pachypleurosaurids from the Middle Triassic of Monte San Giorgio, Switzerland/Italy

Monte San Giorgio — 2011 — WHE86DA351A92

A detailed analysis of long bone microstructure in four pachypleurosaurid taxa from Monte San Giorgio reveals distinct adaptations to secondary aquatic lifestyles, supporting earlier findings on habitat diversity and reproductive strategies. The study highlights high compactness values in their bones, characterized by a thick cortex and persistent calcified cartilaginous core, with variations in remodeling processes, growth cycle spacing, and vascularization. These differences suggest varying longevities, ages at sexual maturity, and potential climate-dependent reproductive seasons akin to modern squamates. The research combines histological data with morphological and facies distribution studies, offering new insights into the life history of these Middle Triassic reptiles.

Long‐term trends in carnivore abundance using distance sampling in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Serengeti National Park — 2011 — WHE7370B530F3

A study analyzing long-term trends in carnivore abundance in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, reveals significant declines in the densities of golden jackals, black-backed jackals, and bat-eared foxes over a span of decades. Using distance-based transect counts from 2002 to 2005 and adjusted historical data from fixed-width transects conducted in 1977 and 1986, researchers were able to detect these changes despite wide confidence intervals. The study highlights the effectiveness of distance-sampling methods for monitoring multiple carnivore species simultaneously, providing critical insights for conservation management. Notably, abrupt declines of up to 20% in frequently observed species like lions, spotted hyenas, and golden jackals can be detected through long-term monitoring, although larger declines may go unnoticed for less common species.

Luang Prabang, sanctuaire Unesco et paradis gay

Town of Luang Prabang — 2011 — WHE9266D871AB

Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, has undergone significant transformation due to tourism, evolving from its traditional image of Buddhist monasteries and colonial architecture into a dual identity. While it remains renowned for its cultural heritage, it is also increasingly recognized as a 'gay paradise,' a label that contrasts with local perceptions of tradition. This study highlights the tension between Luang Prabang's historical and contemporary identities, exploring how UNESCO recognition and tourism have reshaped the town's social dynamics. The research employs qualitative methods to analyze these shifts, revealing the complexities of heritage preservation and cultural identity in the context of globalization.