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The demise of Angkor: Systemic vulnerability of urban infrastructure to climatic variations

Angkor — 2018 — WHE33CBC7D2CA

A new study reveals that Angkor's urban infrastructure was highly vulnerable to climatic variations, particularly flooding, which could trigger extensive and cascading damage. By transforming archaeological data into a numerical model, researchers demonstrated that the likelihood and severity of such systemic failures increased abruptly with the magnitude of flooding relative to normal flows. This finding supports the hypothesis that abrupt climatic changes, combined with infrastructural vulnerabilities, played a significant role in the demise of Angkor. The study draws parallels between ancient urban challenges and modern critical infrastructure issues.

The Descent of Kawab and Hetepheres II.

Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur — 2018 — WHE104BA5ECDC

A critical reassessment of prince Kawab's lineage challenges the long-held assumption that he was a son of Cheops (Khufu). By analyzing relief fragments from mastaba G 7110/20 in Giza and comparing them with evidence from Dahshur, this study argues that Kawab is more likely a grandson of Sneferu rather than a direct descendant of Cheops. The research builds on earlier critiques by W. Federn, who first proposed Kawab's connection to Sneferu, but goes further by synthesizing archaeological and epigraphic data to refine the genealogical framework of the Fourth Dynasty's royal family.

The Destruction and Creation of a Cityscape in the Digital Age: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) — 2018 — WHE699D5E2F58

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's 2017 exhibition renewal leveraged digital technology, such as projection mapping and computer graphics, to vividly depict the destruction of Hiroshima by atomic bombs. This approach aimed to evoke historical empathy in viewers by reinforcing a sense of place and deepening their understanding of the city's pre-war life, people, and identity. The project addressed the urgent need to preserve fading memories of atomic bomb survivors as the war generation ages, while also promoting global nuclear disarmament efforts.

The Development of a Utopian City? Comparing Land and Skyscapes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de la Laguna

San Cristóbal de La Laguna — 2018 — WHEFDB5A0C86B

A comparative analysis of the spatial orientation of historic churches in San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife reveals a unique, deliberate urban planning pattern in La Laguna. The study found that 21 churches in La Laguna exhibit a clear astronomical declination slightly below 20°, suggesting alignment with the feast-day of San Cristóbal de Licia (July 25th). In contrast, six churches in Santa Cruz show no such pattern, instead aligning with orographic sunrise limits. This discrepancy supports the idea that La Laguna was meticulously planned in the early 16th century, distinguishing it from its contemporary counterpart.

The Development of Socialism

New Lanark — 2018 — WHE9F405B90B1

Robert Owen's seminal work, 'The Development of Socialism,' outlines a pioneering vision for social reform and utopian socialism, rooted in his experiences at New Lanark. The text presents a comprehensive plan for societal transformation, emphasizing education, cooperative living, and equitable labor practices to address poverty and industrial exploitation. Owen's approach combines empirical observations on the cotton trade and manufacturing systems with philosophical essays advocating for systemic change. His proposals, including the establishment of self-supporting colonies and a 'New Moral World,' challenge conventional economic and social structures, offering an early framework for modern socialism. The work spans decades, reflecting Owen's evolving ideas from practical reforms to radical societal restructuring.

The Development of the Tourist-Excursion Sphere in Kazan in the First Half of the ХХ Century

Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin — 2018 — WHED43281E8C2

The tourist-excursion sphere in Kazan during the first half of the 20th century played a pivotal role in socio-cultural development, serving as both an educational tool and a means to propagate Soviet ideals. This study reveals that tourism and excursions were instrumental in raising the cultural level of the population, with organized efforts including the creation of guidebooks, methodological works on tours, and the establishment of tourist-excursion societies. The research highlights significant stages such as the organizational-centralization phase (1920s–1930s), which saw the formation of a systematic tourist-excursion service, including new forms like research routes and themed excursions. It also underscores the educational impact on schoolchildren and youth through pioneering initiatives like tourist sections in Pioneers’ Houses and children’s tourist stations. The study draws from archival sources, early guidebooks, and methodological works to analyze the development, challenges, and ideological underpinnings of this period, offering valuable insights for courses in Russian history and tourism.

The Discussion of Tibet’s Paintings in Dunhuang During A.D. 786-907—And the Mural Painting on the North Side of the No.14 Cave of the Mogao Caves

Mogao Caves — 2018 — WHED93072A1C9

Research on the Mogao Caves reveals that during A.D. 786–907, Tibetan-influenced painting styles in Dunhuang lacked a unified model, with significant variations between murals and silk paintings preserved in Library Cave. The study suggests these differences stem from complex historical and cultural interactions, rather than a single artistic tradition. Notably, the Pala style of eastern India emerged in Dunhuang by A.D. 848 but was likely propagated independently of Tibetan influence, challenging assumptions about its regional origins. This finding sheds light on the diverse artistic exchanges along the Silk Road during this period.

The diversity of sharks fossils in Plio-Pleistocene of Java, Indonesia

Sangiran Early Man Site — 2018 — WHEB89FB04C80

Research at the Sangiran Early Man Site reveals that 11 genera of sharks inhabited the Java Sea during the Plio-Pleistocene epoch (2.8 to 1.8 million years ago). This ancient marine environment, characterized by lagoons and coastal swamps, preserved diverse shark teeth fossils with distinct morphological shapes. The study employed morphological comparison and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify these genera using modern shark teeth collections from the Research Centre for Oceanography - LIPI in Jakarta. By comparing fossilized teeth from Sangiran Museum, BPSMPS Karanganyar, and UGM Yogyakarta with contemporary specimens, researchers reconstructed shark diversity during this transitional period.

The Douro landscape heritage (NE Portugal): modernity and tradition in times of change

Alto Douro Wine Region — 2018 — WHE6F6D5DE916

The Alto Douro Wine Region, recognized as an 'Evolving Living Landscape' by UNESCO, faces a tension between preserving its traditional terraced vineyards and adapting to modern agricultural needs. Research reveals that while the region's 250-year-old cultural landscape, renowned for Port wine production, has evolved with new vineyard types like 'vinha ao alto' (vertical vines) and 'vinha em patamares' (terraced vines), there is a pressing need to balance sustainability with heritage conservation. The study combines documentary analysis and fieldwork to explore how this World Heritage Site can maintain its cultural significance while addressing labor shortages and productivity demands.

The Earliest Berbers in the Sahara: In the Central Sahara between 3000 and 1000 BC

Tassili n'Ajjer — 2018 — WHEE1DB15653C

Archaeological evidence reveals that the earliest Berber groups migrated into the central Sahara between 3000 and 2000 BC, coinciding with a period of relative humidity before the region's shift to aridity. These groups, likely originating from the east and north, spread across Tassili n'Ajjer, leaving behind intricate rock art that stands among the world's finest Neolithic representations. The study suggests that Black population groups dominated the Sahara during earlier pastoral phases, but Berber populations became prominent later, benefiting from favorable climatic conditions. Research relied on archaeological analysis of artifacts and rock art to reconstruct historical demographic shifts.

The effect of different genotype cattle grazing on the nutrient content of saline grasslands vegetation

Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta — 2018 — WHECDA5AF30EF

Grazing by both extensive and intensive cattle breeds is effective for maintaining the nutrient content and diversity of saline grasslands, crucial for both nature conservation and agricultural sustainability. The study found that grazing significantly impacts crude protein and life-sustaining net energy content in vegetation, with higher values observed under medium-density grazing over two years. While no significant differences were noted between Hungarian grey (extensive) and intensive beef cattle breeds on most parameters, intensive grazing slightly increased life-sustaining net energy content. Conducted across 16 sample areas in Hortobágy National Park from 2016 to 2017, the research analyzed dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and net energy content along moisture gradients, demonstrating that cattle grazing is essential for preserving both wet and mesophilous saline habitats.

The effects of windblown sand on the deterioration of mural paintings in cave 285, in Mogao caves, Dunhuang

Mogao Caves — 2018 — WHEB1032461F9

Windblown sand, driven by high-velocity winds, is a significant factor in the deterioration of mural paintings on the east wall of Cave 285 in the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves. Despite being less exposed to moisture and solar radiation compared to other walls, the east wall exhibits notable damage, including detachment, flaking, and fading, attributed to sand adhesion and collision. This study highlights the dual impact of wind velocity on both the physical structure and artistic integrity of the murals, offering critical insights for conservation efforts in arid environments.

The elders of Mount Athos and the discourse of charisma in modern Greece

Mount Athos — 2018 — WHE6E219CF82D

Mount Athos monk elders have emerged as influential figures in modern Greek society, their charisma shaping religious discourse and serving as symbols of cultural resistance. This influence has grown significantly since the 1980s, particularly during economic crises, positioning these elders as embodiments of alternative economies of desire and collective fantasies of power and pleasure. The study employs a theoretical framework rooted in symbolic anthropology and Lacanian theory to analyze this phenomenon, revealing how gerontismos (elderism) functions as a potent form of religious discourse in contemporary Greece.

The Elephant on the Page

Archaeological Site of Mystras — 2018 — WHE6B4974CBCD

A rare autograph by Ciriaco de’ Pizzicolli d’Ancona, featuring an elephant drawing in the 15th-century Mystras manuscript Mut. gr. 144, sheds light on cultural exchange between Byzantium and Italy. The image, one of few surviving works by d’Ancona, is accompanied by Greek inscriptions that contextualize his role as a bridge between intellectual milieus in Mystras and Italy. By analyzing the elephant’s depiction within contemporary debates about virtue, this study reveals how visual and textual elements in the manuscript reflect broader cross-cultural interactions during the 1440s.

The Elephants of Aksum: In Search of the Bush Elephant in Late Antiquity

Aksum — 2018 — WHEFB7A6F03F4

Contrary to the prevailing scholarly view, the Aksumite kingdom's use of elephants was not primarily military but centered on regal display and power symbolism. A re-evaluation of Arab and Byzantine sources reveals that the Aksumites favored the larger bush elephant over the smaller forest elephant, leveraging its significance in the late antique ivory trade to bolster their strategic position. This challenges traditional assumptions about the role of elephants in Aksumite society and underscores their cultural and economic importance beyond warfare.

The elusive goal of sustainable tourism

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France — 2018 — WHE7C0C25CAD4

Recent decades have witnessed a significant resurgence in the popularity of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, particularly along its routes in France. This renewed interest has brought both cultural revitalization and environmental challenges, necessitating a shift towards sustainable tourism management. While Spain has taken a more global approach to leveraging the pilgrimage's economic potential, France has made notable progress in recent years by prioritizing the preservation of this unique heritage through careful management strategies. The study highlights that the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France hold substantial potential to serve as a model for cross-border sustainable tourism, provided that ongoing efforts are sustained and expanded.

The Emergence of Political Rulership and the State in Early Japan

Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan — 2018 — WHE745C1CDA24

The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group provides critical insights into the emergence of political rulership and state formation in early Japan. Research reveals that aristocratic burial customs and overseas links with Korea and China played pivotal roles in shaping the Early Kofun political ideology. Notably, this period featured a significant female component in leadership, which later diminished. The study traces the transformation of Kofun-period culture through continental immigration and highlights the influence of the Lelang Commandery on mounded burial practices. This research offers a nuanced understanding of Japan's ancient state development, blending archaeological evidence with historical analysis.

The environmental impact of a pre-Columbian city based on geochemical insights from lake sediment cores recovered near Cahokia

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — 2018 — WHE3B9DED9D96

A distinct sediment layer in Horseshoe Lake, formed between AD 1150 and 1220, reveals the environmental impact of Cahokia's expansion. This gray, fine-grained layer, characterized by low carbonate δ13C, elevated metal concentrations (lead, copper, potassium, aluminum), and increased organic matter δ15N, correlates with archaeological evidence of heightened agricultural activity, mound construction, and population growth. The study suggests that human activities intensified soil erosion, altering sediment sources and nutrient cycling in the watershed. Geochemical analysis of a 1500-year-old lake core provides a novel, multi-proxy record of pre-Columbian urbanization's ecological footprint.

The environmental triangle of the Cerrado Domain: Ecological factors driving shifts in tree species composition between forests and savannas

Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks — 2018 — WHE9AC42EEB6D

Researchers propose the 'Cerrado Vegetation Triangle,' a novel model that characterizes woody vegetation in Brazil's Cerrado Domain based on tree species composition and ecological drivers. The study analyzed 1,165 inventories across six vegetation types—woody savannas, dystrophic cerradão, mesotrophic cerradão, seasonally dry tropical forests, semideciduous forests, and evergreen forests—and found three distinct extremes: high-water-availability forests (semideciduous and evergreen), fertile-soil forests (seasonally dry tropical), and poor-soil savannas. Mesotrophic cerradão acts as a transitional type. The findings underscore the role of local substrate heterogeneity and fire history in shaping vegetation mosaics, offering insights for conservation under environmental change.

The Evolution of Historic Waterfront: a Case Study of George Town, Penang

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2018 — WHECB5261F104

Historic waterfronts, once vital for transportation and urban life, have faced decline due to the shift of central business districts inland. This study reveals that tourism development and government-led initiatives play pivotal roles in revitalizing these areas, preserving their cultural identity while fostering economic growth. Focusing on George Town, Penangthe research employs evolutionary analysis using historical resources and maps to trace how waterfronts transitioned from brownfields to commercial, residential, and recreational spaces. The findings highlight the transformative impact of tourism as a catalyst for urban renewal, offering insights into sustainable redevelopment strategies for similar heritage sites.