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From Contrary to Complementary Models: Central Places and Gateways in the South-Eastern Provence (Arles and Marseille)

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments — 2018 — WHED8A93A6CF2

Arles and Marseille, two prominent Roman port cities in South-Eastern Provence, were not primarily competitors but complementary gateways and central places in Mediterranean trade. This study challenges the traditional narrative of their rivalry by integrating concepts of gateways and centrality to analyze their long-term economic dynamics. Using archaeological markers, it demonstrates how natural landscapes and political control shaped their roles as trans-shipment centers, with Marseille serving a static service area and Arles acting as the main gateway for the Rhône corridor. The research highlights overlapping trading networks and the interplay of local/regional and long-distance trade, emphasizing the nuanced economic interactions between these cities during Greco-Roman times.

From Iconoclasm to Museum: Mussolini’s Villa in Rome as a Dictatorial Heritage Site

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura — 2018 — WHE6F339BD206

A recent study reveals that the transformation of Mussolini’s former villa in Rome into a museum reflects shifting public attitudes toward Fascist legacies, challenging official narratives and complicating historical interpretations. The research examines how this heritage site, once a symbol of dictatorial power, now serves as a platform for renegotiating Italy’s contentious past. By analyzing the museum’s display, the study explores whether such sites can actively support or contest dominant historical narratives, shedding light on the socially constructed nature of heritage and its evolving public perception.

From Magas to Glaukon. The Long Life of Glaukon of Aithalidai and the Chronology of Ptolemaic Re-Annexation of Cyrene (ca. 250 BCE)

Archaeological Site of Cyrene — 2018 — WHE6C827FBF6F

A new analysis of a fragmentary catalogue of eponymous priests of Apollo from mid-third-century BCE Cyrene reveals key insights into the chronology of Ptolemaic re-annexation and the presence of Glaukon, an Athenian statesman. This study identifies Glaukon—younger brother of Chremonides—as a likely Ptolemaic commissioner who held priesthood for several years, providing previously unknown details about his life and death in Cyrenaica. By cross-referencing this inscription with other historical sources, the research sheds light on the turbulent political landscape following King Magas' death and clarifies the sequence of events leading to Ptolemy II's reassertion of control over Cyrene.

From the depths: Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., the world's deepest-occurring millipede (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Anthroleucosomatidae) from caves in the western Caucasus

Western Caucasus — 2018 — WHE4307590283

Researchers have identified the world's deepest-occurring millipede, Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., from the Krubera-Voronja and Sarma caves in Abkhazia, western Caucasus. This new species, belonging to the family Anthroleucosomatidae, not only represents one of the largest known chordeumatidans but also extends the vertical distribution record for millipedes. The study provides taxonomic insights into its relationships within the Caucaseuma complex and the genus Heterocaucaseuma, along with new faunistic records for three other species in the same genus. Additionally, it updates ecological data on the subterranean community of Krubera-Voronja Cave and discusses troglomorphy (adaptations to cave life) in the genus. The presence of ectoparasitic fungi from the order Laboulbeniales is also noted.

From the liminal to the lateral: urban religion in English cathedrals

Durham Castle and Cathedral — 2018 — WHE8D78C9868D

English cathedrals, including Durham Castle and Cathedral, blend high cultural value with adaptable liturgical practices, making them popular destinations that transcend traditional sacred-secular divides. Research shows these sites facilitate 'lateral' ritual engagement—where formal and informal, official and personal practices intertwine—challenging conventional notions of liminality in urban religious spaces. By analyzing data from four cathedrals (Canterbury, Durham, Westminster, York), the study highlights how visitors navigate complex, fluid interactions with heritage sites, suggesting that ambiguous or less visible behaviors hold significant sociological weight. This approach reframes encounters between diverse publics and sacred spaces, emphasizing laterality as a key concept for understanding contemporary urban religion.

From the lived city to the Heritage City: Antigua Guatemala and the Medina of Fez in front of tourism and the staging of daily life

Medina of Fez — 2018 — WHE5B9AA2063F

UNESCO World Heritage designation, while preserving buildings and boosting tourism, often displaces local populations and alters urban dynamics. A comparative study of Antigua Guatemala and the Medina of Fez reveals that heritage status leads to economic and cultural pressures, pushing original inhabitants to peripheries due to rising costs and tourism-driven transformations. The research, based on statistical analysis, documentary review, and ethnographic observations from 2017, highlights how urban policies favor foreign investment while constraining local living traditions. It advocates for rethinking heritage protection to prioritize resident populations and the authenticity of their cultural practices over historical preservation alone.

From the Waters to the Plate to the Latrine: Fish and Seafood from the Cardo V Sewer, Herculaneum

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata — 2018 — WHE806DDB37F4

Excavation of the Cardo V sewer in Herculaneum, Italy, revealed a diverse Roman diet with significant marine components. Analysis identified approximately 70 fish taxa and 48 marine mollusc species, indicating a high dietary diversity among non-élite residents. Most fish were small, likely netted in shallow coastal waters, while shellfish included species from sandy shores, rocks, and the seabed, suggesting local collection near the water's edge. The findings suggest that fish and seafood were readily available, nutritious, and likely consumed fresh or preserved as salsamenta (salted) or garum (fermented sauce). The study highlights the importance of marine resources in the Bay of Naples during the Roman era.

From Timbuktu to The Hague and Beyond

Timbuktu — 2018 — WHEA5C419988C

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) ruling in the Al Mahdi case, involving the destruction of cultural heritage in Timbuktu, has sparked broader discussions on the protection and preservation of cultural property. This essay examines how international criminal law can contribute to these debates, particularly in the context of transitional justice, which often seeks cultural change to address oppression and impunity. It explores complex questions about valuing cultural property, defining what constitutes protected property, and determining whose interests should guide its protection. The analysis suggests that penal law's role in safeguarding cultural heritage is both transformative and contentious, reflecting the broader societal implications of preserving cultural identity.

Functional reef fish groups of the Mexican Caribbean: implications of habitat complexity

Sian Ka'an — 2018 — WHEBA07F59C73

Habitat complexity significantly influences the richness and functional diversity of reef fish communities in the Mexican Caribbean, with slopes exhibiting the highest fish richness across all studied localities. The study analyzed 160 species from 11 reef sites along the Yucatán Peninsula, classifying them into 28 functional groups based on diet and morphology. While protection status within Sian Ka'an did not correlate with response variables, the findings highlight the importance of habitat complexity in maintaining ecosystem connectivity and biodiversity. This research contributes to understanding the ecological dynamics shaping marine biodiversity hotspots under increasing threat.

Funerary Practices at the Toca do Gongo III Site during the Late Holocene in Serra da Capivara (Piauí, Brazil)

Serra da Capivara National Park — 2018 — WHE3DE84C681B

Archaeological research at the Toca do Gongo III site, within UNESCO World Heritage-listed Serra da Capivara National Park, reveals previously undocumented funerary practices of semi-sedentary horticultural-ceramist groups inhabiting Brazil's semi-arid Caatinga region during the Late Holocene (c. A.D. 1390–1630). Bioarchaeological analysis of 12 burials—including pit graves and ceramic urn deposits—highlights a predominance of juvenile remains, offering new insights into mortuary customs in the Brazilian northeast. The study compares these findings with other regional sites, tracing funerary traditions from the Late Pleistocene to Late Holocene, thereby addressing significant gaps in understanding prehistoric burial practices. This research contributes critical data on the cultural and social organization of ancient groups in a globally recognized archaeological landscape.

Galapagos Islands Endemic Vertebrates: A Population Genetics Perspective

Galápagos Islands — 2018 — WHE2D204C69FD

Modern population genetics and genomics research has revealed that the Galápagos Islands, pivotal to Darwin's theory of evolution, exhibit diverse evolutionary pressures among six iconic vertebrate species. Strong selection drove diversification in Darwin's finches and flight adaptation loss in the flightless cormorant, with candidate genes identified. Genetic drift significantly impacted small populations like the pink iguana and Galápagos hawk, while interisland gene flow was evident in marine iguanas and some finch species. Hybridization introduced adaptive variation, potentially leading to despeciation. These findings highlight the complex interplay of evolutionary forces shaping Galápagos biodiversity.

Garden Empire or the Sublime Politics of the Chinese-Gothic Style

Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz — 2018 — WHE9E46C06632

Eighteenth-century European gardens, particularly those incorporating Chinese-Gothic architectural elements, served as political symbols reflecting royal power and governance ideals. The study reveals that the 'Chinese-Gothic style,' popularized by architect Sir William Chambers, was not merely an aesthetic choice but a deliberate representation of empire and sublimity, contrasting with the strict geometric designs of French Renaissance gardens. This style was contentious, as evidenced by contemporary critiques such as William Mason's satirical poem, which highlighted its discordant elements. The research explores how garden design in sites like Kew Gardens (London) and Dessau-Wörlitz (Germany) mirrored broader political ideologies, with the irregular 'landscape garden' style being championed as a reflection of constitutional governance over despotic rule.

Gas hydrates in Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal — 2018 — WHE10494FF65A

Researchers have identified two distinct types of gas hydrates—biogenic methane and thermogenic ethane—in the sediments of Lake Baikal, marking it as the only freshwater body where such formations occur. The study reveals a novel mechanism for mud volcano formation in this region, driven by tectonic activity and warm fluid influx that destabilizes gas hydrates. A 2018 survey mapped 54 hydrate-bearing structures, including mud volcanoes, mounds, seeps, and pockmarks, distributed along fault zones and sedimentation boundaries. These findings highlight the interplay between geological processes and carbonaceous formations in shaping Lake Baikal's subsurface landscape.

Gastrocopta armigerella (Reinhardt, 1877) and Gastrocopta theeli (Westerlund, 1877) in western Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan, and their further occurrence in Asia (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pupilloidea)

Western Tien-Shan — 2018 — WHE78DAA8ABF5

A recent study reveals the presence of two Gastrocopta species, G. armigerella and G. theeli, in the western Tien Shan region of Kyrgyzstan, with findings suggesting that G. armigerella may be extinct in this area. The research, based on drift material analysis at high water lines in river floodplains, indicates that these occurrences are likely sub-fossil or fossil shells from the Holocene or Pleistocene periods, rather than living specimens. This discovery expands the known distribution of G. armigerella to central and western Asia, while also marking the first documentation of G. theeli in this region. The study employs morphological comparisons and field surveys to support these conclusions.

Generational Restoration: Oleg Igorevich Zhurin, Petr Dmitrievich Baranovskii and a resurrection on Red Square

Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow — 2018 — WHEEF45CD7B4F

A remarkable resurrection of Russia's 17th-century heritage on Red Square was achieved through intergenerational collaboration between Petr Dmitrievich Baranovskii, a pioneering restorer, and Oleg Igorevich Zhurin, his mentee. Despite Stalinist destruction in the mid-20th century, Baranovskii's meticulous 1920s research laid the foundation for Zhurin to revive the Kazan’ Mother of God Cathedral and Resurrection Gates during the late 1980s. This 'generational restoration' capitalized on shifting cultural attitudes post-Gorbachev, demonstrating the enduring power of historical preservation despite political upheaval.

Geodynamics and Regularities of Seismicity in the Eastern Segment of the Amurian Plate

Central Sikhote-Alin — 2018 — WHEC0CB464906

Research reveals that seismic activity in the southeastern part of Far Eastern Russia is driven by strain waves nucleating at the buffer zone of the northeastward-moving Amurian Plate. The study identifies a high-seismicity zone (M ≥ 4.5) in Lower Priamurye, linked to reactivation of the Bureya Orogen, where regional compression peaks beneath a meridional dome with increased Moho depth (36–40 km). A negative gravity anomaly marks lower rock density in this orogen, while contemporary uplift has triggered centrifugal migration of strong earthquakes (M ≥ 5.0) from the dome's center to its periphery between 1983 and 2009. Additionally, seismicity south of the Bureya Orogen is concentrated along the Tan-Lu Fault zone, where northeastward-migrating foci result from tangential rotation of the Amurian Plate, pushing the Central Sikhote-Alin block southward. This tectonic interaction also influences deep-focus earthquakes (M ≥ 6.0) at depths of 400–600 km in the Pacific Plate's subduction zone.

Geographic Origins, Status, and Identity at Paquimé, Northwest Chihuahua, Mexico

Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes — 2018 — WHE5C318F5AB3

A significant portion of the population at Paquimé was born locally or within the Casas Grandes region during the Medio Period (A.D. 1200-1450), with only 13% being migrants from neighboring regions, including the American Southwest and other parts of northwest Mexico. Contrary to debates suggesting foreign elites drove cultural change, this study found that high-status burials at Paquimé belonged to locally-born individuals, indicating ritual authority rather than external influence. Most sacrificial victims were non-locals, highlighting social tensions between locals and immigrants. The research used radiogenic strontium and stable oxygen isotope analyses on a large sample of individuals from Paquimé and the Viejo Period Convento site, along with comparative samples to identify geographic origins. Mortuary analyses further assessed social status and identity.

Geophysical Investigation of the Malga Archaeological Park (Carthage, Tunisia)

Archaeological Site of Carthage — 2018 — WHE1C32E06180

A non-invasive multitechnical geophysical survey at the Malga archaeological park in Carthage, Tunisia, revealed significant subsurface structures that likely correspond to buried archaeological relics. The study identified a potential linear magnetic anomaly on the eastern-north side of the site, possibly linked to ruins made of sandy bricks similar to those found in the Carthage-Zaghouan Aqueduct. Additionally, numerous bipolar magnetic anomalies suggested the presence of magnetized bodies beneath the surface. Seismic tomography profiles further delineated four distinct stratigraphic layers, with variations in seismic velocity potentially indicating limestone enrichment or phreatic water influence. A depth of approximately 1 meter was identified for potential archaeological features exhibiting strong electrical resistivity contrasts.

Geotourism and Cultural Heritage

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park — 2018 — WHE155842AF0E

A shift in understanding geotourism has revealed its deep connection to cultural heritage, challenging the traditional focus solely on geological features. This study highlights how the geological foundation of a region, combined with climate and biodiversity, shapes cultural practices, including tourism. Using Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as a case study, the research demonstrates that the link between geology and Indigenous tourism has been overlooked in academic literature. It shows how evolving perceptions of cultural authenticity led to the 2019 ban on climbing Uluru, reflecting broader changes in tourism practices and the importance of respecting Indigenous traditions.

Geotourism in Jeju Island UNESCO Global Geopark, South Korea

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes — 2018 — WHEF4BC3F8EF7

Jeju Island, recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2010 and revalidated in 2014, showcases diverse volcanic geosites that include cinder cones, tuff cones, lava domes, and lava tube caves. Additionally, it features a Pleistocene fossil site and a Holocene carbonate beach composed of algal nodules. The study highlights the conservation efforts, monitoring practices, and sustainable development programs implemented within the geopark to protect these unique geological formations while promoting education and geotourism. These initiatives aim to balance preservation with visitor engagement, ensuring the long-term sustainability of Jeju Island's natural heritage.