World Heritage Research: Search

Publications

Showing 16861 – 16880 of 30345 publications

La creación del primer paisaje colonial español en las Américas, Santo Domingo, 1492-1548

Colonial City of Santo Domingo — 2019 — WHE11E6F1759C

This study reveals the violent and racially charged origins of Spanish imperial imagery in Santo Domingo, which became the blueprint for colonial landscapes across the Americas. It demonstrates how the destruction of indigenous worlds and the racialization of space were fundamental to the creation of this landscape, challenging its perceived naturalness. Through a meticulous analysis of primary sources from 1492 to 1548—including chronicles, travel itineraries, ordinances, and Crown letters—the research conceptualizes the landscape as both ideology and practice, uncovering the systemic violence, displacement, and resistance embedded in colonial urban development. By centering the Caribbean within European modernity, the study re-evaluates indigenous and African Maroon counter-imagery, highlighting ongoing patterns of destruction and racism in colonial landscapes.

La difficile mise en œuvre de la patrimonialisation dans la ville de Naplouse (Territoires palestiniens occupés)

Sebastia — 2019 — WHE8A0753DCCA

Despite Nablus' rich historical heritage, spanning from Roman antiquity to Mamluk and Ottoman influences, its patrimonialization process faces significant challenges that hinder its potential inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The study identifies key obstacles including land pressure competing with urban development, insufficient resources and regulatory frameworks for heritage protection, and political priorities that marginalize heritage conservation efforts. While Hebron's old town has recently been listed, Nablus struggles due to these systemic issues, revealing the complex interplay between occupation, governance, and cultural preservation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

La evaluación de la capacidad de carga perceptual en el Camino de Santiago Francés: una aproximación cuantitativa

Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain — 2019 — WHEC9810EF4AA

Research indicates that the Camino Francés, one of the most heavily trafficked routes of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, is experiencing significant overcrowding. This study, based on a quantitative analysis of 385 responses from pilgrims, reveals that current tourist levels are altering the route's identity and could pose long-term challenges. The investigation focuses on perceptual carrying capacity, assessing how increased visitation impacts the pilgrimage experience. Findings suggest that while the Camino Francés remains a vital cultural and spiritual pathway, its sustainability is at risk due to rising demand, necessitating further attention to preserve its unique characteristics.

La influencia del espacio en el aprendizaje de la arquitectura. Bauhaus de Dessau y ENSA Nantes

Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau — 2019 — WHEF56D0DC48C

A transdisciplinary approach integrating architecture, pedagogy, and neurocience reveals that spatial design significantly influences learning processes. The study identifies two key dimensions: the building's morphological characteristics across scales (classrooms, common areas, envelope, urban connections) and its content (furniture, objects, technologies). These dimensions actively shape the learning experience of students in architecture schools. By analyzing the Bauhaus Dessau and ENSA Nantes—pioneering examples where space is designed to facilitate active learning—the research demonstrates how intentional spatial design can enhance pedagogical outcomes, with ENSA Nantes extending this learning beyond the university environment.

La Mercadotecnia en las Festividades Religiosas Caso: Niñopa, Xochimilco, México

Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco — 2019 — WHE02C714AE2A

Religious festivals, particularly the Niñopa celebration in Xochimilco, Mexico City, serve as significant economic and cultural drivers through implicit marketing strategies. This study reveals that such festivities generate substantial tourist appeal and financial resources for local communities, while also reinforcing social and cultural identity. The research employed a qualitative, ethnographic, and descriptive approach to analyze the Niñopa festival, highlighting its role in both economic derrama (local income generation) and cultural preservation. Findings underscore the importance of religious celebrations as both economic catalysts and repositories of tradition, offering insights into how empirical marketing practices shape community dynamics within UNESCO-recognized heritage sites.

La statuetta indiana da Pompei: nuove considerazioni per un approccio emico

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2019 — WHEE32E5A424C

A newly discovered ivory statuette from Pompeii, likely of Indian origin, challenges conventional understandings of Roman material culture. This rare artifact, found in 1938, raises questions about its iconography, provenance, and symbolic significance within Roman society. By drawing parallels with Ovid's Metamorphoses—particularly myths linking ivory to female prostitution—and Roman banquet customs, the study suggests that such objects were displayed not merely for aesthetic value but as conversation catalysts during elite gatherings. This emic approach shifts focus from artifact analysis alone to its social function and perceived meaning among Pompeiians, offering a nuanced interpretation of how exotic goods were integrated into daily life.

Labor across an Occupational and Gendered Taskscape: Bones and Bodies of the Tiwanaku State (A.D. 500–1100)

Tiwanaku: Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture — 2019 — WHE26CD6A39B2

A groundbreaking bioarchaeological study of the Tiwanaku state (A.D. 500–1100) reveals how labor was organized by elevation, environment, and gender within its multiethnic society. Analyzing skeletal remains from Bolivia and Peru, researchers identified distinct patterns of osteoarthritis in wrists, hands, ankles, feet, and spines, linking them to occupational tasks and subsistence practices. The findings suggest that while heartland populations showed minimal task differentiation, indicating reciprocal and heterarchical labor structures, colonial regions exhibited significant variations, reflecting specialized labor divisions. This approach bridges archaeological taskscape theory with bioarchaeology, positioning ancient Tiwanaku individuals as active agents in understanding prehistoric labor dynamics.

Labor Mobilization and Cooperation for Urban Construction: Building Apartment Compounds at Teotihuacan

Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan — 2019 — WHEBBA31BA736

Apartment compound construction at Teotihuacan during the Tlamimilolpa phase (AD 250–350) was not a uniform process but rather a diverse one, involving state labor mobilization, communal labor obligations, and corporate labor exchange. This study reveals that while residents relied on external labor forces for construction, the procurement, transportation, and production of building materials were centrally organized, indicating a state labor tax. Architectural energetics and archaeometric analysis of nonlocal materials, such as lime plaster and andesitic cut stone blocks, provided evidence for this complex labor organization. The findings suggest that urban transformation at Teotihuacan was a bottom-up process, contrary to the previously assumed top-down planning implied by its orderly layout.

Lake-level changes and hominin occupations in the arid Turkana basin during volcanic closure of the Omo River outflows to the Indian Ocean – comment on the published paper by Boës et al. Quaternary Research (2018), Vol. 91.2, 892–909

Lower Valley of the Omo — 2019 — WHE5BF8C972B0

A critical reassessment of lake-level dynamics and hominin occupations in the arid Turkana Basin reveals that volcanic activity, not climate change alone, primarily drove the closure of the Omo River’s outflow to the Indian Ocean. This challenges prior interpretations by Boës et al. (2018), who attributed such changes to climatic shifts. The study employs sedimentological and stratigraphic analyses to demonstrate how volcanic eruptions altered drainage patterns, creating a more arid environment that influenced hominin adaptations. These findings underscore the complex interplay between geological events and environmental conditions in shaping human evolution in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Land and People of the Mongolian Steppes

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape — 2019 — WHE807703DF68

Archaeological evidence from northern Mongolia reveals early human habitation in the steppe regions, including the Selengge, Tula, and Orkhon river valleys. This challenges the notion that nomadic life emerged later in history, suggesting a continuous presence of humans in these areas since the Paleolithic era. The study employs a geographical approach to contrast the arid nomadic lands north of the Great Wall with the intensively farmed monsoon regions to the south, highlighting the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape as a key heartland for historical dominion and trade route control. By mapping the extent of power and activity from Manchuria to eastern Europe, the research underscores the strategic significance of the Mongolian plateau in shaping East Asian and global history.

Land Cover Classification of Complex Agroecosystems in the Non-Protected Highlands of the Galapagos Islands

Galápagos Islands — 2019 — WHE714714FBA5

Invasive plants dominate the agricultural landscape of the Galápagos Islands' non-protected highlands, covering 28.5% of the area—more than any other land cover type. This finding emerges from a high-resolution land cover classification study that combined PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with UAV validation, achieving strong accuracy (overall Kappa: 0.7, R²: 0.69). The research reveals that pastures (22.3%), native vegetation (18.6%), food crops (18.3%), and mixed forest/pioneer plants (11.6%) follow in prevalence, reflecting historical colonization patterns. By leveraging object-based classification with a RandomForest algorithm, the study provides a baseline dataset to support both conservation efforts and agricultural practices, bridging gaps between these critical disciplines.

Land Squandering in the Spanish Medium Sized Cities: The Case of Toledo

Historic City of Toledo — 2019 — WHE50870D2FC1

Spanish medium-sized cities, including the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, experienced significant urban sprawl and land squandering from the mid-1990s to 2008. This process, driven by speculation and profit, transformed compact urban forms into disjointed spaces, particularly in peripheral districts. The study highlights how Toledo's urban expansion extended into its hinterland while also noting internal dispersion through the 'Ensanche' (widening) process in the late 20th century. Using urban estate cadaster data alongside fieldwork and bibliographic research, the authors demonstrate that such growth patterns resulted in fragmented urban landscapes. This research underscores the consequences of unchecked land development on historic cities.

Land use changes and dynamics over the last century around churches of Moldavia, Bukovina, Northern Romania – Challenges and future perspectives

Churches of Moldavia — 2019 — WHEE6C75CF434

Significant land use changes over the past century have been identified around several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northern Romania, including Probota, Humor, Patrauti, and Arbore churches. These changes, analyzed through historical maps (1917) and modern orthophotos (2005, 2016), reveal deforestation and anthropogenic environmental alterations that threaten the integrity of these monuments. In contrast, Sucevita, Voronet, and Moldovita churches retain their natural Bukovina landscape, while Suceava church is embedded in a highly urbanized environment. The study highlights the vulnerability of these sites to human-induced changes, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to preserve their cultural and ecological significance.

Land-Use/Land-Cover Changes and Their Impact on Surface Urban Heat Islands: Case Study of Kandy City, Sri Lanka

Sacred City of Kandy — 2019 — WHEA3D3C28FCE

Between 1996 and 2017, Kandy City, Sri Lanka, experienced a dramatic expansion of impervious surfaces (IS), growing from 529 hectares to 5833 hectares—an annual increase of 11.1% to 12.2%. This rapid urbanization intensified the surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect, with persistent IS areas exhibiting significantly higher land-surface temperatures (LST) than newly added IS, averaging 1.43°C warmer due to their dense urban surroundings. The study, using Landsat data and geospatial techniques, revealed that while forest cover declined, strategic green landscape management could mitigate SUHI impacts. These findings underscore the critical role of LULC changes in shaping long-term urban heat dynamics.

Landform mapping of Okinoshima island and sea bed of Munakata city

Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region — 2019 — WHE6C7BF14A04

A comprehensive landform mapping of Okinoshima Island and the seabed of Munakata City reveals significant geological insights, contributing to the understanding of the Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region. The study identifies a horseshoe-shaped caldera structure formed by the set of islands, with Okinoshima rising approximately 340 meters above a flat seabed. Topographic analysis shows a shallow flat table to the west and a concave area inclining eastward. Using GIS, the research integrates ground elevation maps, slope maps, relief maps, and 3D images, alongside geospatial data from GSI and JHA, to classify landforms such as crests, steep cliffs, and talus cones. The findings highlight restricted access areas while providing valuable references for understanding the island's formative processes.

Landsat-8 Multispectral Satellite Imagery for Rhinoceros Sondaicus Habitat Spatial Distribution Modelling through Biophysical Parameters in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Ujung Kulon National Park — 2019 — WHEAFBC84D288

Landsat-8 multispectral satellite imagery effectively identifies key biophysical parameters crucial for the survival of the critically endangered Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia. The study demonstrates that this remote sensing approach can accurately map essential habitat characteristics such as slope, altitude, vegetation cover index, temperature, and proximity to water sources like puddles, rivers, beaches, and glades. By integrating these parameters into a spatial distribution model, researchers have developed digital maps that visualize suitable habitats for the Javan Rhinoceros, offering actionable insights for conservation efforts. This method provides a scalable and precise tool for in-situ conservation planning, addressing critical gaps in environmental data needed to protect this iconic species.

Landscape changes, cave site formation and human occupation during the Late Pleistocene: a geoarchaeological study from the Ach and Lone valleys (Swabian Jura, SW Germany)

Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura — 2019 — WHE659768E95D

A groundbreaking geoarchaeological study of the Ach and Lone valleys in the Swabian Jura challenges the long-held assumption that Southwest Germany experienced significant depopulation during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). By integrating micromorphological analysis, FTIR methods, sediment coring, geophysics, and radiocarbon dating, researchers found evidence suggesting human presence in the region between 26,000 and 13,500 years ago—a period previously thought to be uninhabited. The study reveals that erosional phases in cave sites may have obscured archaeological records of Gravettian occupations, rather than indicating a true absence of humans. Additionally, it shows no direct evidence for colder climatic conditions at the time of early modern human arrival, contradicting earlier hypotheses. These findings reshape our understanding of landscape evolution's impact on the region's archaeological narrative and the timeline of human occupation in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Landscape Economic Attractiveness: An Integrated Methodology for Exploring the Rural Landscapes in Piedmont (Italy)

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato — 2019 — WHE3DCB297EDF

Researchers developed an integrated methodology to measure the economic attractiveness of rural landscapes, specifically applying it to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Piedmont, Italy: the Moraine Amphitheatre of Ivrea and the vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato. The study introduced a synthetic index—Landscape Economic Attractiveness Index (LEAI)—derived from a system of landscape indicators, which was then integrated into a dynamic model to assess its role in human mobility across multi-pole systems. This approach provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to guide landscape and territorial transformations while preserving cultural and environmental integrity. The methodology offers a framework for evaluating rural landscapes' economic potential, supporting sustainable development strategies.

Landscape Transformations in the Historical Capitals of Lithuania during the 13th-14th Centuries

Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) — 2019 — WHE823A235B43

Research challenges long-standing assumptions about the origins of the Peninsula Castle in New Trakai, revealing it was not artificially constructed but rather a transformed glacial hill. This finding contrasts with previous scholarly beliefs and sheds new light on landscape transformations during the 13th-14th centuries in Lithuania's historical capitals—Kernavė, Trakai, and Vilnius. The study, conducted between 2018-2019, employed advanced techniques such as LiDAR data analysis, geophysical surveys, minimal-destructive archaeological investigations, and pedological methods to reconstruct the paleorelief of these landscapes. In Kernavė, extensive landscape modifications were identified, including the creation of two hillforts separated by a defensive moat, while Trakai's brick castle was strategically built on a site that required minimal transformation. These insights highlight the Gediminid dynasty's ambitious approach to shaping power centers within Lithuania's nascent state.

Landscapes of water and landscapes of power: hydraulic politics in Butrint (Albania) between Venetians and Ottomans

Butrint — 2019 — WHEE691DCA12D

Archaeological evidence from Butrint, Albania, reveals how hydraulic landscapes and water management strategies evolved between Venetian (14th–18th centuries) and Ottoman (19th–20th centuries) rule, reflecting shifts in political power and local economies. The study demonstrates that changes in water infrastructure—such as canals, irrigation systems, and settlement patterns—were not merely functional but deeply tied to broader hydraulic politics. These adaptations influenced regional landscapes, economic activities, and settlement dynamics, illustrating the complex interplay between environmental manipulation and governance in a border area. The research underscores the significance of water resources as both a tool for control and a catalyst for social transformation.