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Showing 17561 – 17580 of 30345 publications

The Europeanization of Holocaust and World War II Memory in Poland – General Remarks

Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) — 2019 — WHED211C19E89

Polish Holocaust and World War II museums increasingly align with European trends in museology, shifting from passive historical presentation to interactive formats that emphasize human rights, tolerance, and democratic dialogue. This study examines how institutions like the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and others integrate these postulates, demonstrating a transition toward platforms for public discussion and negotiation of meanings. The research analyzed multiple Polish museums, revealing their evolving role in fostering reflection on one of history's greatest disasters while adhering to broader European academic frameworks.

The evolution and identification of cultural landscape value in protected areas: A case of Mount Tai

Mount Taishan — 2019 — WHE6C09FD1CBF

Mount Tai's cultural landscape value evolves through five distinct stages, transitioning from natural reverence to political symbolism, religious significance, folk customs, and finally conservation. This study identifies a pattern of value transformation—from singular to comprehensive, from elite to public, and from separation to integration—shaped by historical, social, and aesthetic factors. The findings highlight the dynamic interplay between nature and culture, with four key elements: ideas, conditions, behaviors, and spatial results, emphasizing integrity, systematicness, and adaptability. Strategies for identifying cultural landscape value should prioritize continuity, authenticity, and a scientific assessment framework. This research provides a model for managing protected areas, offering insights applicable to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks globally.

The Evolution of Cultural Space in a World Heritage Site: Tourism Sustainable Development of Mount Wuyi, China

Mount Wuyi — 2019 — WHEA28F963EB5

Mount Wuyi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in China, exhibits a dynamic evolution of its tea cultural space driven by market forces and cultural development. A study analyzing data from 1996 to 2017 using the vector autoregressive model revealed that culture was the most influential factor in this evolution, while market supply and demand acted as the strongest exogenous drivers. The research identified a multi-stranded interactive evolutionary model, offering insights into the sustainable development of tourism destinations and World Heritage Sites. This finding underscores the importance of balancing cultural preservation with economic growth to ensure long-term sustainability.

The Evolution of Urban Spatial Structure in Brasília: Focusing on the Role of Urban Development Policies

Brasilia — 2019 — WHE9D91912BFD

Brasília's urban spatial evolution, shaped by Lucio Costa's vision and subsequent development policies, reveals a shift from polycentric to strategically coordinated growth. This study identifies that social and political drivers have increasingly influenced the city's spatial organization, replacing earlier dispersed satellite city models. By analyzing three key aspects—planning intentions, territorial governance, and external conditions—the research underscores the need for a more adaptive and coordinated metropolitan development framework in Brasília. This approach could enhance interrelations within the city and improve governance processes, offering insights applicable to other planned urban landscapes.

The Exhaustion of Wood Buffalo National Park

Wood Buffalo National Park — 2019 — WHE7FC83A1581

Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada's largest and the world's second-largest national park, faces severe ecological and cultural degradation due to industrial mega-projects like BC Hydro's W.A.C. Bennett Dam and tar sands oil extraction. These extractivist activities have decimated wildlife and disrupted sacred Indigenous relations with land, leading to a 2014 petition by the Mikisew Cree First Nation to UNESCO to list the park as endangered. The study highlights how these events reflect broader tensions in environmental politics, wilderness conservation, and Indigenous-settler relations within a colonial framework.

The Existing Challenges of Heritage Management in Gondar World Heritage Sites: A Case Study on Fasil Ghebbi and the Baths

Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region — 2019 — WHEE6B38EF3AA

Gondar, Ethiopia, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Fasil Ghebbi and the Baths, faces significant heritage management challenges that threaten its cultural integrity. Key issues include plant overgrowth, human-induced vibrations and noise, visitor pressure, improper conservation practices, lack of effective management plans, and insufficient monitoring systems leading to graffiti. These problems are exacerbated by poor coordination among stakeholders and inadequate visitor guidance. A qualitative study employing surveys, participant observation, and photographic documentation reveals the severity of these challenges compared to global case studies. Immediate intervention is recommended to address these issues and preserve Gondar's heritage for future generations.

The expansion and city centre formation of Amsterdam, in two map series

Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht — 2019 — WHE055FDC825E

Amsterdam's expansion and city centre formation, particularly around the Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring Area inside the Singelgracht, were significantly influenced by strategic infrastructural developments and urban planning. By 1850, the city was surrounded by water, with the Singelgracht marking its boundary. Key findings include the construction of tax-free transhipment centres like the Rijksentrepotdok in 1827, which bolstered Amsterdam's trading dominance, and the enhancement of north-south water routes through projects like the North Holland Canal (1824) and River Amstel improvements (1825). The advent of railways in 1839 marked a shift from water transport, with lines ending just outside the Singelgracht. Urban development saw the relocation of public institutions, including the city council to Prinsenhof and the courthouse to the Palace of Justice on the Prinsengracht canal. The Plantage, a unique green area within the Singelgracht, housed botanical gardens, a zoo, and other recreational spaces, though permanent construction was restricted. This study, using two map series, provides a detailed spatial analysis of Amsterdam's urban transformation during this pivotal period.

The Exploration of the Bonin Archipelago (Ogasawara Islands) by Japan in 1675

Ogasawara Islands — 2019 — WHEC6D2840494

A groundbreaking maritime expedition in 1675, led by Captain Shimaya Ichizaemon during Japan's period of national seclusion (sakoku), challenges long-held assumptions about the country's exploration capabilities and political will during the Edo period. This voyage to the remote Bonin Archipelago (Ogasawara Islands) stands as one of Japan's most significant yet least recognized maritime achievements, showcasing advanced shipbuilding and navigation skills. The expedition not only mapped the islands but also collected exotic wildlife, offering a rare glimpse into early Japanese overseas exploration. By reexamining historical records, this study sheds new light on a misunderstood chapter in both Japanese and Bonin history.

The fate of Uganda’s Northern white rhino translocated to Murchison Falls National Park in 1961 and 1964

Garamba National Park — 2019 — WHEE2EDC769A4

Uganda's northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), once widespread across Africa, is now believed to be extinct in the country. This historical note documents the decline and likely extinction of this subspecies, which was translocated from Garamba National Park to Murchison Falls National Park in 1961 and 1964. The study highlights that while the northern white rhino was once taxonomically distinct and widespread, its range contracted significantly by the eighteenth century, leading to its current status as critically endangered or possibly extinct. Despite low human densities and inaccessible terrains in regions like the Central African Republic and Southern Sudan, no confirmed sightings have been recorded since the translocations, suggesting a high likelihood of extinction. The research relies on historical records and taxonomic analysis to trace the subspecies' fate.

The female memory factory: How the gendered labour of memory creates mnemonic capital

Australian Convict Sites — 2019 — WHE3EEB4C1B87

This study introduces the concept of 'mnemonic capital,' demonstrating how gendered mnemonic labor—where women's efforts to preserve and activate memory—transforms into a form of institutionalized value. Through a feminist economic analysis, it reveals that mnemonic labor, particularly in contexts like the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct (PFFP) in Sydney, accumulates as mnemonic capital, reinforcing gendered dimensions of memory work. The research applies this framework to the activism of the Parragirls and PFFP Memory Project, highlighting how their efforts to reclaim the history of Australia's longest continuous site of female containment challenge institutionalized violence and forgetting. The analysis underscores the global economic system's role in perpetuating gendered erasure while illuminating the potential for mnemonic labor to create lasting change.

The first juvenile specimen of Eolacerta (Squamata: Eolacertidae) from the early–middle Eocene of the Messel Pit (Germany)

Messel Pit Fossil Site — 2019 — WHEC78C659C38

Researchers have identified the first juvenile specimen of Eolacerta, a large, extinct lizard from the Messel Pit fossil site in Germany. This discovery provides unprecedented insights into the early ontogeny of Eolacerta robusta, revealing key morphological traits such as a developing parietal constriction and slightly fewer maxillary teeth than adults (28 vs. 30–32). The specimen, measuring 11.3 cm and weighing approximately 21 g, also confirms the presence of pterygoid dentition—a rare feature in fossil records—and preserves unique details of the ischium and scales, similar to those of Stefanikia but with elongated subdigital scales. Additionally, the study notes the first observation of a ceratobranchial I in this species, resembling modern Lacertidae. The findings highlight ontogenetic variations in skeletal and dental structures, offering new perspectives on the growth and evolution of early Eocene squamates.

The First Punic War, northern Italy, and Illyrian pirates, 264 to 219 b.c.e.

Archaeological Site of Carthage — 2019 — WHE1A34BAA4A7

Archaeological excavations across the Mediterranean, including at Rome and Carthage, reveal significant insights into the social, economic, political, and cultural trends of the Roman Republic during its peak from 264 to 133 b.c.e. This period marked Rome's transition from consolidating control over peninsular Italy to expanding its power through a series of wars, notably the First Punic War starting in 264 b.c.e., which followed the destruction of the rebellious Etruscan city of Volsinii. The study highlights how Rome's political system remained stable under a patricio-plebeian consular nobility while its influence extended across the Mediterranean, shaping the foundation of a future empire.

The formation of the monastic communal living traditions in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad — 2019 — WHE9C6AA7A3A2

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a pivotal monastery in Medieval Rus, saw the revival of communal living traditions under the leadership of St. Sergius of Radonezh. This study reconstructs aspects of the monks' daily life, highlighting their routines, obedience, nutrition, and clothing while analyzing deviations from monastic standards. Using historical anthropological and hermeneutic approaches, the research identifies internal and external factors shaping these traditions, offering insights into the embodiment of Christian ideals and the continuity of lost practices. The findings underscore the significance of St. Sergius's role in restoring and enhancing monastic life principles.

The Global Textual Legacies of Truth Commissions: Narratives on Sexual Violence in the Reports of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kenya and Beyond

Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) — 2019 — WHE1DA4D40F53

Truth commission reports serve as pivotal textual legacies that interpret and narrate extreme violence, providing structured narratives from fragmented individual accounts. These reports, preserved by initiatives like UNESCO's Memory of the World, offer normative interpretations of past atrocities, turning incomprehensible sequences into meaningful stories. The study focuses on the global textual legacy of truth commissions, analyzing their role in documenting and evaluating violence, particularly sexual violence, across cases such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Kenya. By examining these reports, researchers reveal how truth commissions shape societal understanding of conflict through fixed, written narratives.

The Gods and Demons of the Preah Vihear Temple

Temple of Preah Vihear — 2019 — WHE60711C8F92

The Gods and Demons of the Preah Vihear Temple reveals intricate symbolic representations within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, shedding light on its religious and cultural significance. Through detailed analysis, the study deciphers how deities and mythological figures are intricately linked to the temple's architecture, reflecting Khmer Hindu-Buddhist traditions. The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining archaeological documentation with iconographic studies, to uncover the spiritual narratives embedded in Preah Vihear's carvings and structures. This work not only enhances our understanding of the site's historical context but also underscores its enduring cultural legacy.

The Gold in the Mosaics of Ravenna

Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna — 2019 — WHED3B3D63604

Ravenna's early Christian monuments, particularly their mosaics, showcase a significant evolution in artistic expression and ideological representation. The study reveals that the use of gold leaf tesserae in these mosaics was not merely decorative but served as a powerful symbol to convey the light of transcendence, the glory of Christ, and the authority of the Catholic Church. This shift from naturalistic representations to golden backgrounds marks a clear transition in artistic style and religious symbolism, reflecting the anti-Arian sentiment prevalent during the time of Arian ruler Theodorico's reign. The research highlights Ravenna as a unique site to observe these changes, given that many similar monuments in the Orient were destroyed for ideological reasons. The analysis of materials—including glass, stone, ceramic, marble, and mother-of-pearl—demonstrates the intricate craftsmanship and chromatic sensitivity employed by mosaicists.

The Grand Canal in Republican China

The Grand Canal — 2019 — WHEEB50B34CA5

A failed attempt to restore the Grand Canal during Republican China revealed the complex interplay of humanitarian, corporate, and educational interests in modern state-building and environmental management. The project, involving an American company, highlighted the Chinese government's reliance on global science and finance to address Yellow River floods threatening North China's environmental equilibrium. Despite its failure, this endeavor underscores the entangled dynamics of expertise, infrastructure development, and disaster relief in shaping China's approach to waterway restoration.

The Grid and the Labyrinth: from Ancient Rome to Modern Architecture

Villa Adriana (Tivoli) — 2019 — WHE9F724D266C

Contrary to conventional architectural wisdom, the grid and labyrinth are not opposing forces but have coexisted throughout history, including in ancient Roman architecture. A study of Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli reveals that even seemingly irrational, labyrinthine designs can emerge from rational planning systems, challenging assumptions about order versus complexity. The research employs a comparative approach, analyzing the spatial organization and cultural context of the villa to demonstrate how structured grids and labyrinthine elements coexisted in Roman architecture, offering insights into Hadrian's masterful integration of these design principles.

The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method in the characterization of the Monastery of Batalha

Monastery of Batalha — 2019 — WHE9667F5BDE9

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) revealed hidden structures and historical details within the Monastery of Batalha, offering critical insights for preservation efforts. The non-destructive method provided high-resolution 2D/3D images, identifying ancient foundations, columns, and archaeological features, including those in the Cloister of D. João I and the Church. GPR's efficiency allowed for rapid data acquisition, contributing to a proposed inner structure model of the walls. These findings underscore its potential as a valuable tool for conservation, recovery, and rehabilitation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Habitus of Fieldwork: the Self as the New Other

Wadi Rum Protected Area — 2019 — WHEF660B599D2

An extensive 22-month field study in Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan, reveals that anthropological research transforms the researcher into an 'Other,' challenging preconceived notions of self and culture. Through deep engagement with Bedouin informants, particularly the Zalabieh community, the study highlights how mutual interaction reshapes both the researcher's identity and the cultural practices of the studied group. The research emphasizes the unconscious construction of new selves through coexistence, while also exposing gender dynamics that subvert traditional power structures. By advocating for 'mediation' over 'study,' the work underscores the reciprocal nature of anthropological inquiry, where boundaries between observer and observed blur, leading to a more nuanced understanding of cultural habitus.