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Publications

Showing 161 – 180 of 15962 publications

Being-in-the-field: Ethnographic Observations on Archaeological Fieldwork in Central Mongolia

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE05264F2145

This study introduces the concept of 'ethnography of archaeological fieldwork' within the context of Central Mongolia, focusing on the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape. It reveals how archaeological knowledge production is not only a process rooted in the past but also deeply embedded in contemporary societal dynamics and pastoral landscapes. Through two fieldwork seasons (2023 and 2024), the research explores the daily life at an excavation site, the interplay between archaeological activities and existing infrastructures, and the reflexive perspective of the researcher as both insider and outsider. The findings underscore the potential for this approach to foster more ethical archaeological practices by integrating local contexts into the study of material culture.

Berlin, la réinvention des images patrimoniales

Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin — 2026 — WHEBD0F19EF09

Berlin's post-reunification urban transformation has successfully reimagined its historical and cultural landscape, particularly through the revitalization of iconic sites like Museumsinsel (Museum Island). This study reveals how the city strategically reinterpreted its Prussian heritage to project a modern, globally relevant identity while addressing both domestic and international political agendas. The research focuses on key monuments—such as the Reichstag, Grand Hotel at the Esplanade, and Potsdamer Platz—that were either destroyed or damaged during wartime but later became central to Berlin's commemorative, architectural, and urban projects from 1990 to 2020. By analyzing these efforts, the study demonstrates how a cohesive visual, architectural, and patrimonial narrative was constructed, positioning Berlin as a symbolic capital in the 21st century.

Best Jaipur Local Sightseeing Taxi Routes for Full Day?

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur — 2026 — WHEEA577578D0

Optimal one-day sightseeing routes for Jaipur's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and Nahargarh Fort, have been identified to maximize efficiency while minimizing crowd exposure. These routes leverage expert local taxi drivers who provide historical insights and navigate smartly across the Pink City's landmarks. The study highlights the benefits of booking AC sedans, SUVs, or tempo travelers for family-friendly, hassle-free exploration, with all tolls included in the service. Flexible timings cater to couples and groups, ensuring maximum comfort while covering additional attractions like Jal Mahal and Birla Temple. This research offers a practical solution for tourists seeking seamless access to Jaipur's cultural heritage.

Between empire and industry: negotiating urban heritage, modernization, and identity in Bursa, Türkiye

Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire — 2026 — WHECD94BD8883

Heritage-led urban transformation in Bursa, Türkiye, reveals how UNESCO designation and neoliberal policies prioritize monumental Ottoman legacies while marginalizing Republican-era industrial heritage. This study demonstrates that such processes reshape urban space through commodification, selective remembrance, and symbolic exclusion, often at the expense of everyday urban practices and social equity. By integrating Lefebvre’s production of space, Halbwachs’ politics of collective memory, and Harvey’s concept of spatial justice, the research highlights tensions between preservation, modernization, and spatial justice in post-imperial cities under global heritage regimes.

Between energy sovereignty and indigenous rights: a legal pluralism critique of the warim block auction plan in Eastern Indonesia

Lorentz National Park — 2026 — WHEE198A52668

Indonesia's push for large-scale hydrocarbon expansion in Papua, including the re-auction of the Warim Block, reflects structural dependence on fossil capital accumulation rather than a genuine pursuit of energy sovereignty. The study finds that state law in this process undermines Indigenous land rights and treats conservation status—such as Lorentz National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—as negotiable when extractive interests dominate. Using legal pluralism critique, critical discourse analysis, and political economy frameworks, the research exposes distributive, procedural, and recognition injustices tied to hydrocarbon capitalization in Amungme customary territory. It argues for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a substantive veto mechanism, alongside structural fiscal reform, to address these systemic inequities.

Between Faith and Context: Islamic Urbanism as Spatial Negotiation in the Morphology of Malabar’s Port Towns

Old Walled City of Shibam — 2026 — WHE5A0E19FDB7

Islamic urbanism does not prescribe fixed forms but instead emerges through contextual negotiation, shaped by environmental constraints, trade networks, and local traditions. A comparative study of Shibam (Yemen) and Kuttichira (India) reveals that while certain spatial characteristics align with Islamic ethical principles, their manifestation varies significantly due to cultural, ecological, and socio-political dynamics. The research demonstrates that urban morphology in these port towns arises from a processual interplay of forces, rather than religious doctrine alone. This challenges deterministic views of Islamic urbanism, instead framing it as an interpretive framework that produces hybrid, layered environments—particularly evident in Malabar, where matrilineal systems and vernacular practices intersect with Islamic influences. The study advances the concept of 'contextual Islamic urbanism' to analyze urban form as a relational outcome.

Beyond a simple wet-to-dry transition: Staged eruptive evolution during growth of the alkaline Bárcena volcano, Isla San Benedicto, México

Archipiélago de Revillagigedo — 2026 — WHE605DA73EF6

Research on the Bárcena volcano in Mexico's Revillagigedo Archipelago reveals that its 1952–1953 eruption did not follow a simple wet-to-dry transition but instead involved staged changes in eruptive conditions and magma supply. The study analyzed stratigraphy, grain-size distributions, petrography, SEM observations of juvenile clasts, and whole-rock geochemistry to demonstrate that the volcano's growth was marked by distinct phases: initial pyroclastic cone construction, intra-crater dome extrusion, and a lateral lava breakout. These stages were characterized by varying degrees of magma-water interaction, with Package 2 showing the strongest evidence for such interactions, including structured ash beds and black-glassy juvenile clasts. Geochemical data further indicated that the late lava was less siliceous and more crystalline than the pyroclastic pumice, suggesting a transition from an evolved alkaline suite to a related but less evolved magma domain.

Beyond dive shape: the identification of fine-scale vertical movements reveal within-dive behavioural structure in a pursuit-diving seabird

Sceilg Mhichíl — 2026 — WHED6CA6DBA16

A groundbreaking study on Skellig Michael, Ireland, reveals that Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) exhibit distinct behavioral patterns during dives, with fine-scale vertical movements—termed 'wiggles'—serving as proxies for prey-capture attempts. These wiggles were most frequent during ascent and bottom phases of dives, accounting for less than 10% of occurrences despite descent comprising 30.3% of dive time. This challenges traditional classifications of dive shape by highlighting the importance of surface foraging in pursuit-diving predators. The research employed a novel approach combining broken-stick segmentation with wiggle detection to quantify prey-capture attempts, offering a transferable framework for studying diving behaviors across species. This method enhances the interpretation of time-depth recorder (TDR) data and provides deeper insights into the energetic trade-offs and foraging strategies of marine predators.

Beyond Migration: Reconsidering the Buyeo Origin Hypothesis through Steppe Elements in Gaya Tumuli

Gaya Tumuli — 2026 — WHE911475AA9E

A new analysis of Gaya tumuli challenges the long-held Buyeo origin hypothesis, revealing that Northern-type material culture—such as bronze cauldrons and equestrian equipment—was not a direct result of Buyeo migration but rather an active selection and recombination by Gaya's ruling elite. The study finds that these elements, including Buyeo-Xianbei phase forms and Sanyan-phase artifacts, were strategically integrated into Gaya society, reflecting a broader East Asian interaction sphere rather than cultural transplantation. Notably, the absence of animal sacrifice in key tombs suggests these items served agricultural ceremonial purposes, indicating a functional shift from nomadic to sedentary contexts. This reinterpretation positions Buyeo not as Gaya's direct origin but as one of several reference models for how non-nomadic societies harnessed steppe prestige goods to consolidate political authority.

Beyond Standards: Framework for Monitoring, Protection, and Conservation of Highly Vulnerable Cultural Heritage Sites in the Context of Anthropopressure and Climate Change

Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945) — 2026 — WHE43C6B9ED8C

A groundbreaking framework for monitoring, protecting, and conserving highly vulnerable cultural heritage sites—such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial—has been developed to address threats posed by climate change and anthropogenic pressure. The study introduces non-standard, minimally invasive testing methods that successfully mitigate risks without altering the material fabric of historic assets. Drawing from a multi-year interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, it challenges conventional conservation standards, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies to protect sites increasingly vulnerable to external threats like hydrogeological changes. This approach offers a model for safeguarding other UNESCO World Heritage Sites facing similar pressures.

Beyond the Factory Town: Sustainable New Uses and Cultural Continuity of Olivetti’s Architectural Heritage in Ivrea, Italy

Ivrea, industrial city of the 20th century — 2026 — WHE7BA5CC4B6A

Adaptive reuse of twentieth-century architectural heritage, such as Olivetti’s buildings in Ivrea, Italy, must balance contemporary functionality with cultural and material integrity to ensure long-term sustainability. A qualitative study of four case studies within the UNESCO World Heritage site revealed that successful reuse depends on preserving spatial structure, constructional logic, and urban context while accommodating new functions. The research used an interdisciplinary framework of eight indicators—spatial adaptability, social impact, heritage conservation, and environmental performance—to assess transformations from original to post-reuse configurations (T0 to T1). Findings highlight cultural continuity as a multidimensional condition, offering a critical evaluation tool for modern architectural heritage conservation.

Beyond the Final Say: Social Coordination Shapes Success in Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra) Vocal Duels

Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque — 2026 — WHE545E5AEC38

Research on black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in Palenque National Park, Mexico, reveals that social coordination and strategic vocal behavior significantly influence the outcomes of intergroup contests. The study found that groups were more likely to succeed when they ended a vocal bout, especially if adult males terminated simultaneously or at least one female contributed. Longer sequences and initiating with a roar also increased success rates. These findings suggest that howler monkeys use coordinated vocal displays as reliable indicators of motivation and group cohesion, reducing the need for physical conflicts. The research highlights the importance of collective behavior in shaping intergroup competition dynamics among primates.

Beyond universal templates: the Three Ethical Indicators (3EIR) and the art of contextual conservation

Urnes Stave Church — 2026 — WHE6BB75D2E2C

A paradigm shift is proposed for UNESCO World Heritage conservation, moving from rigid adherence to universal norms towards ethically grounded, community-engaged stewardship. The study introduces the Three Ethical Indicators (3EIR)—Respect, Referencing, and Reflection—and operationalizes them through the Three Operational Parameters (3OPR): Replacement, Reinforcement, and Regeneration. These frameworks reframe Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as a living document guiding culturally responsive conservation, addressing tensions between internationally mandated standards and diverse cultural ontologies. The research compares Japan’s Hōryū-ji Temple Complex and Norway’s Urnes Stave Church, highlighting how their distinct preservation methods reflect underlying ethical principles. By embracing differences and critiquing homogenised universality, the study advocates for a more nuanced approach that honours each site's unique heritage.

BHOJPUR STUPA NO. 7 Archaeological, Epigraphic, Relic-Deposit, Historical, Museum, and Evidence-Critical Research HIRR-2026-0029

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi — 2026 — WHE32B65C7595

A critical reassessment of the 19th-century excavation records for Bhojpur Stupa No. 7 reveals that the celebrated rock-crystal stupa reliquary, previously attributed to this monument, actually belongs to Bhojpur Stupa No. 2. This correction is based on a meticulous analysis of Alexander Cunningham's original chapter structure, page sequence, and descriptions, which clearly separate the two stupas. The study confirms that Stupa No. 7 contained a central shaft, a displaced relic chamber, signs of disturbance, and two inscribed earthenware vases with readings 'Patito' and 'Upahitakasa,' suggesting ancient relic-related deposits and commemorative associations. However, it does not support claims of an intact crystal reliquary or the presence of calcined bone fragments attributed to the historical Buddha. The research also reviews later treatments by F.C. Maisey, British Library records, and modern collection histories, distinguishing archaeological provenience from museum custody and legal title.

Bias Correction of Satellite Precipitation Products Near the Data-Scarce Region of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHE26FABA118C

A novel bias correction algorithm using machine learning models effectively improves the accuracy of satellite precipitation products in arid regions, such as Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia. The study found that a one-dimensional ConvLSTM model outperformed Random Forest and XGBoost, reducing relative bias from 50.8% to -1.71% for CMORPH and from 282.2% to +1.15% for IMERG datasets. This approach is particularly suitable for regions with limited topographical variation and prominent temporal variability, offering a valuable tool for sustainable water resource management, agricultural planning, and drought mitigation in data-scarce arid areas.

Bibliographical Features and Buddhist Historical Background of the Goryeo Woodblock Edition of the Bulseol Bomungyeong Preserved at Haeinsa

Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks — 2026 — WHE72351770F5

A Goryeo Dynasty woodblock edition of the Bulseol Bomungyeong, preserved at Haeinsa Temple, reveals significant insights into 13th-century Buddhist scholarship and textual practices. This extract from the Maha-ratnakuṭa-sutra, attributed to Tang monk Bodhiruci, shares a textual lineage with the Tripitaka Koreana but includes occasional errors and omissions. Its scroll format—featuring four-sided borders, 36 columns of 16 characters each—and doctrinal focus on 'universally entering the inconceivable dharma-gate' aligns with Hwaeom School teachings on interpenetration and dependent origination. Comparative analysis suggests its creation during the Goryeo period, underscoring the coexistence of independent monographs alongside canonical texts. The study also highlights early scholarly interest in this scripture, as evidenced by Uicheon’s inclusion of a related commentary in Gyojang-chonglok. These woodblocks thus serve as critical artifacts reflecting the ideological diversity and Manjusri devotion practices of Goryeo Buddhism.

BigLeak - Archaeology

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum — 2026 — WHE00A6E351BC

Researchers propose a universal cognitive compression protocol that explains the structural similarities of symbolic systems across deep time, independent of diffusion. This protocol is defined by five functional slots: Origin [σ], Relation [κ], Individuation [π], Time [τ], and Transition [γ]. The study tests this hypothesis with four hard axioms, including Shannon-entropy constraints and minimum size requirements, using the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta as a primary test case due to its taphonomic stability (Factor of Safety ≈183.6). The findings demonstrate that 15 deep-time clusters spanning 4 continents pass the protocol's criteria, while a contrast sample fails, validating the approach. This work challenges traditional diffusion-based explanations for symbolic similarities and introduces a landslide-safe preregistration to ensure reproducibility.

Binary annual map (Forest/Non-Forest) of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve during 2000 to 2024

Okapi Wildlife Reserve — 2026 — WHEF255437BF4

A comprehensive binary annual map of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, spanning from 2000 to 2024, reveals significant changes in forest cover over a quarter-century. This dataset, derived from the Joint Research Centre Tropical Moist Forest (JRC-TMF) data, provides yearly spatial layers that offer critical insights into deforestation and forest dynamics within this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The maps serve as a transparent and reproducible resource for researchers, enabling detailed analysis of land-use changes and their ecological impacts. By offering a granular view of forest/non-forest transitions, the dataset supports studies on biodiversity conservation, habitat fragmentation, and the effectiveness of protection measures in one of Africa's most biologically diverse regions.

Bioconsolidation of calcarenite for cultural heritage conservation: Effects of application methods on mechanical and petrophysical properties

Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia — 2026 — WHE32BE9E9A5F

Bioconsolidation using carbonatogenic bacteria significantly enhances the mechanical and petrophysical properties of calcarenite, a highly porous rock, offering a promising eco-friendly conservation technique for weathered stone materials. The study, conducted under laboratory conditions, examined the efficacy of different bioconsolidation application methods—spray and immersion—on Macco calcarenite from the Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia. Results showed that while spray treatment led to higher mass gain, immersion provided greater mechanical reinforcement, including increased uniaxial unconfined compressive strength and seismic wave velocity. These findings support bioconsolidation as an effective non-invasive intervention for the restoration of ancient Etruscan hypogeal tombs, addressing conservators' needs while advancing sustainable conservation practices.

Biodiversity on the Intertidal Rocky Reefs of Oceanic Islands: the Lord Howe Island Marine Park as a Case Study

Lord Howe Island Group — 2026 — WHE5AD36E0D2D

Intertidal rocky reefs of oceanic islands, such as those in the UNESCO-listed Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP), harbor exceptionally high biodiversity with a significant proportion of endemic and vulnerable species. This study reveals that rubble reefs support the greatest species richness, taxonomic diversity, and number of rare or habitat-restricted species, while topographic complexity emerges as the dominant driver of biodiversity patterns across reef types. However, these topographic effects are complex and variable, limiting their use as robust surrogates for broader biodiversity assessments. The research also identifies lagoonal reefs as particularly susceptible to cumulative human impacts. By integrating systematic biodiversity surveys with high-resolution drone-based photogrammetry, the study provides novel baseline data and practical management recommendations to safeguard these fragile ecosystems in the LHIMP and similar oceanic island environments.