Special Issues

Heritage publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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AI and the Future of Cultural Heritage
edited by , Marco Raoul Marini and Augusto Palombini
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 10 articles | Viewed by 27262 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence; cultural heritage; ethics; environmental sustainability; human-centered approaches
Multisensory Museums: Richer Experiences, Inclusivity and Accessibility to Cultural Heritage
edited by and Anna Maria Marras
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 8 articles | Viewed by 20242 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; museums; multisensory experience; mixed reality; hybrid reality; accessibility; learning process; cultural transmission; storytelling; interaction
(This special issue belongs to the Section Museum and Heritage)
Heritage as a Design Resource for Virtual Reality
edited by Kasper Rodil and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8571 | Submission Open
Keywords: virtual reality; cultural heritage; diversity; system designs
Exploring Novel Approaches to Preserve and Monitor the Cultural Heritage Materials submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 8109 | Submission Open
Keywords: biodeterioration; conservation science; deterioration pattern; monitoring; non-invasive techniques; sustainability; multidisciplinarity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials and Heritage)
Advanced Data Environment in Current Cultural Heritage 3D Digitization Practices submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 6 articles | Viewed by 7813 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; data management; digital heritage; 3D scanning for CH data management; photogrammetry for CH data management; CH 3D-based information systems; web-based information systems; semantics
Unveiling the Past: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Archaeology
edited by
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6657 | Submission Open
Keywords: archaeoseismology; geophysics applied to archaeology; geoarchaeology; historical earthquake damage; site effects; seismic vulnerability; earthquake resilience; cultural heritage conservation
Geological Hazards and Heritage Safeguard
edited by
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2005 | Submission Open
Keywords: geohazard; natural hazard; risk; geoheritage; geopark; geosite; geodiversity; cultural heritage; indigenous; protection
Computational Methodologies Supporting the Preservation, Access and Re-use of Sound and Musical Cultural Heritage
edited by Niccolò Pretto and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1815 | Submission Open
Keywords: sound documents preservation; artificial intelligence; intangible cultural heritage; music and speech collections; human– computer interaction; sound and music computing; internet of musical things; music information retrieval
Virtual Reconstruction and Digital Restoration in Cultural Heritage: Methods, Documentation, and Scientific Validation
edited by , Simone Berto and Eleonora Scopinaro
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1145 | Submission Open
Keywords: reconstruction; digital restoration; cultural heritage; scientific documentation; multi-temporal modeling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Digital Heritage)
Dynamic Monitoring of Monumental Buildings and Artistic Goods
edited by Stefania Viti and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | Viewed by 345 | Submission Open
Keywords: dynamic monitoring; art collections; art museums; historical monumental buildings; dynamic response of art staging; seismic assessment of art goods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Architectural Heritage)
Preservation of Cultural Heritage: The Nexus of Diagnosis-Prevention-Sustainability
edited by , , Michael Turner and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2025 | Viewed by 202 | Submission Open
Keywords: diagnostic study and decay diagnosis; preventive conservation; sustainable development; remote sensing; non-destructive testing; 3D modeling; GIS; conservation strategies; eco-friendly materials; energy-efficient materials
New Perspectives for the Sustainable Conservation of Cultural Heritage
edited by Anne Solenn Le Hô and Ann Bourgès
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 5899 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainability; conservation; restoration; environment; cultural heritage; materials; practices; resources
Insights into Modern Textile Production: Natural Colourants, Historical Textiles, Analytical Characterization and Technological Source Research
edited by Paula Nabais and Rita Salvado
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 5377 | Submission Open
Keywords: textiles; manufactures; natural colorants; analytical characterization; written sources
Navigating Indigenous Connections to Underwater Heritage in the Contemporary Era
edited by Ingrid Ward and Isabel Cartajena
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3260 | Submission Open
Keywords: underwater; submerged; marine; freshwater; cultural landscapes; Indigenous perspectives; Western Science; prehistoric; archaeology; policy development
(This special issue belongs to the Section Underwater Heritage)
YOCOCU2024 Ancient Traditions, Conservation Challenges and Future Scenarios for the Innovative and Green Protection, Enhancement and Fruition of Cultural Heritage submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3187 | Submission Open
Keywords: conservation and restoration of cultural heritage; preservation of museum collections; investigations for cultural heritage; green conservation of cultural heritage; conservation of urban art; virtual restoration; conservation of digital art; risk assessment of cultural heritage and landscapes; entertainment for education; risk management for cultural heritage
Heritage and Sustainability: Keys to the Management and Valorization of Natural Resources submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3132 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; sustainability; natural resources; sustainable tourism; traditional agriculture; forest management; renewable energies; heritage conservation; community development; ecotourism
Palaeopathological Analysis Applied to Forensic and Archaeological Studies submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1932 | Submission Open
Keywords: human palaeopathology; animal palaeopathology; diseases origin; zoonosis; pathologies and culture
Archaeology and Environmental Anthropology
edited by and Yannis Bassiakos
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1573 | Submission Open
Keywords: geoarchaeology; palaeoenvironment; geochronology; archaeometric techniques; landscape archaeology; human– cave dynamics; past climatic changes– implications for ancient societies; human– environment interactions
Provenance of Construction Stone Materials in Archaeology: New Advances, Methodologies and Issues
edited by , , , and Anna Gutiérrez Garcia-Moreno
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1484 | Submission Open
Keywords: ancient stones; archaeometry; ancient quarries; stone provenance and trade; archaeology of architecture; ancient economics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Materials and Heritage)
Sustainability for Heritage
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1451 | Submission Open
Keywords: climate change; conservation; environmental degradation; heritage; resilience; sustainability
Cultural Landscape and Sustainable Heritage Tourism
edited by Carlos J. Pardo Abad
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 832 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural landscape; heritage tourism; tourism sustainability; territorial heritage; challenges and opportunities of sustainable heritage tourism
Spatial Data Science for Cultural Heritage Climatic Change Risk Assessment and Mitigation
edited by Apostolos Sarris and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | Viewed by 290 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage  ; climatic risk assessment; monitoring and mitigation measures; geospatial technologies and modelling
History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
edited by Mariangela Vandini, and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2025 | Viewed by 173 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; heritage management; sustainable development; conservation; conservation science
Advanced Analysis of Geoheritage and Geoscience
edited by
submission deadline 15 Oct 2025 | Viewed by 246 | Submission Open
Keywords: geodiversity; geocultural; geoheritage; geographical information system (GIS); unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); ground penetrating radar (GPR); laser scanning; light detection and ranging (LiDAR); remote sensing; geostatistics
The Archaeology of Climate Change
edited by Sharon Steadman and John Frederick Haldon
submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | 8 articles | Viewed by 7176 | Submission Open
Keywords: archaeology; climate change; methodology; ecology; adaptation
Spectroscopy in Archaeometry and Conservation Science
edited by
submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3993 | Submission Open
Keywords: Raman spectroscopy; FTIR; XRF; SEM-EDX; UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy; imaging; chemometrics; artificial intelligence
Advanced Analysis of Bioarchaeology, Skeletal Biology and Evolution
edited by Lucie Biehler-Gomez
submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 757 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioarchaeology; biological anthropology; skeletal biology; evolution; human biology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Biological and Natural Heritage)
Advancement of Remote Sensing and GIS in Risk Protection for Cultural Heritage submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | Viewed by 645 | Submission Open
Keywords: mapping hazards; risk mapping; geospatial standards; GIS-BIM integration; AI techniques (machine and deep learning); climate change trend identification; monitoring of cultural heritage sites; change detection; open datasets
Application of Radiocarbon Dating in Conservation of Artwork and Heritage Materials
edited by Laura Hendriks
submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | Viewed by 555 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; archaeology; radiocarbon dating; conservation; analytical techniques; interdisciplinarity; historical and modern materials
Environmental Archaeology: Reconstructing Historical Landscapes in Long-Inhabited Estuarine Areas
edited by and Maria da Conceição Freitas
submission deadline 31 Oct 2025 | Viewed by 194 | Submission Open
Keywords: environmental evolution; geoarchaeology; environmental proxies; sedimentology; sedimentary records; estuarine cities
(This special issue belongs to the Section Archaeological Heritage)
Cultural Heritage: Restoration and Conservation
edited by Paola Pogliani and
submission deadline 20 Nov 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1206 | Submission Open
Keywords: conservation; restoration; cultural heritage; diagnostic; enhancement; documentation; materials; technologies; methodologies; products
Towards Intelligent Digital Heritage: From Latest Digital Survey Techniques to Advanced 3D Data Analytics and Use
edited by , Stefano Campana and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9203 | Submission Open
Keywords: 3D survey; photogrammetry; laser scanning; cultural heritage; AI  ; 3D data analytics
Analytical Chemistry for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
edited by and Davide Tanasi
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3160 | Submission Open
Keywords: analytical chemistry techniques; archaeological material analysis; cultural heritage conservation; non-destructive testing methods; artifact provenance and authenticity; chemical characterization of archaeological objects; imaging and spectroscopy in archaeology; mass spectrometry in archaeology; degradation processes in cultural artifacts; interdisciplinary approaches
The Past Has Ears: Archaeoacoustics and Acoustic Heritage
edited by
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2504 | Submission Open
Keywords: archaeoacoustics; intangible heritage; acoustic digital twins; soundscape; virtual reconstructions; musical heritage; acoustic heritage; experimental archaeology
Revitalizing Heritage Places and Memories for Sustainable Tourism submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2240 | Submission Open
Keywords: heritage conservation and safeguarding; intangible cultural heritage preservation through tourism; regional development and cultural tourism; heritage valorization and territorial regeneration; cultural and heritage tourism; sustainable tourism; sustainable experiences; preserving authenticity; cultural traditions and practices; sustainable heritage uses; narratives; memories; and heritage sites; cultural preservation and community involvement; innovative interpretation and technology; memory and identity; governance and collaborative policies
Multianalytical Approaches Applied to Conservation and Restoration Strategies in Cultural Heritage
edited by , and Anna Maria De Francesco
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1588 | Submission Open
Keywords: conservation; restoration; consolidation; coatings; protective products; provenance; ancient materials; degradation; characterisation; archaeometry; pigments; mortars; frescoes; mosaics; stone
Advances in Non-invasive Multi-analytical Approaches for the Study of Painted Artworks
edited by Raffaella Fontana and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1255 | Submission Open
Keywords: non-invasive multi-analytical approaches; preventive interventions; atomic; molecular; and nanometer scale; micro- and macro-metric scale; cultural heritage; artwork conservation; materials of works of art
Smart Heritage: The Role of Heritage in the Cities of the Future
edited by Efstratios Stylianidis and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 1195 | Submission Open
Keywords: metaverse; artificial intelligence; Internet of Things (IoT); extended reality (XR); tools and platforms for smart heritage; sustainable development and smart heritage; smart cities’ tourism and digital heritage; smart heritage and digital data reuse; smart cities; digital heritage; and ethics
Mass Spectrometric and Radiometric Analyses in Cultural Heritage Preservation
edited by Corina Anca Simion
submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 102 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage preservation; archaeosciences; mass spectrometry; radiometric methods; stable isotopes analysis; carbon-14; lead-210; radon-222; carbon footprint; nanoplastics
Digital Museology and Emerging Technologies in Cultural Heritage submission deadline 20 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1778 | Submission Open
Keywords: digital museology; experimental museology; virtual museums; digital heritage; 3D documentation; extended reality in museums; geospatial technologies for heritage; smart museums and IoT; big data for museums; artificial intelligence in museums; machine learning for heritage analysis; digital twin for museums; crowdsourcing cultural heritage; heritage data visualization; digital storytelling in museums; digital ethics in heritage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Museum and Heritage)
Heritage Materials and Historic Buildings: Preservation and Environment
edited by Alexandra Rodrigues, Carla Machado, Fernanda Carvalho and Amanda Corrêa Pinto
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 7 articles | Viewed by 8490 | Submission Open
Keywords: buildings preservation; built heritage materials; outdoor environment; heritage care indoors; heritage and environment; sustainable conservation; restoration materials and techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Architectural Heritage)
Virtual Anthropology. Digital Approaches for Paleoanthropology and Paleopathology
edited by Rosalie David and Jenefer Metcalfe
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8472 | Submission Open
Keywords: palaeoanthropology; palaeopathology; ancient diseases; virtual anthropology; radiological/CT imaging; photogrammetry; 3D scanning; virtual reality; morphometrical analysis; digital facial reconstruction
HBIM and Information Systems for Cultural Heritage Memory and Preservation
edited by , Virna Maria Nannei and Angelo Massafra
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5247 | Submission Open
Keywords: HBIM; architectural heritage information systems; preventive conservation; CH monitoring; predictive heritage management; digital twins; heritage science; 3D data and semantics; scan-to-BIM; knowledge base systems
Challenges and Advancements in the Cleaning, Conservation and Restoration of Archaeological Small Finds submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4565 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural Heritage preservation; cleaning; consolidation; protection; advanced materials; small finds conservation
Deterioration and Conservation of Materials in Built Heritage
edited by and David Martín Freire-Lista
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4245 | Submission Open
Microclimate in Heritage
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3768 | Submission Open
Keywords: microclimate; environmental conditions; temperature and humidity; solar radiation; pollution; heritage decay and conservation; showcases; microclimate painting frames
Non-Invasive Methods for Analysis and Diagnostic in the Field of Cultural Heritage
edited by and Giuseppe Politi
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2779 | Submission Open
Keywords: non-invasive methodology; ion beam analysis; X-ray fluorescence; multispectral and hyperspectral imaging; Raman spectroscopy; FTIR spectroscopy; neutron and X-ray radiography and tomography; X-ray diffraction
Technological Innovations in the Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of the Building Heritage
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2331 | Submission Open
Keywords: chemical and engineering materials and technologies; environmental monitoring of monuments; virtual reality; digital heritage technologies; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Architectural Heritage)
Futurescape of Heritage Preservation: Integrating AI, Digital Twins, and Multi-Scale Technologies for Cultural Sustainability
edited by
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | Viewed by 1769 | Submission Open
Keywords: preventive preservation; cultural heritage digital twins; artificial intelligence in heritage conservation; multi-scale digitization; multi-modal data integration; non-destructive measurement techniques; sensor technologies for heritage sites; AI-driven decision support systems; climate change mitigation for cultural heritage; remote heritage asset management
Past for the Future: Digital Pathways in Cultural Heritage
edited by , Katherine Kelaidis and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 1 articles | Viewed by 994 | Submission Open
Keywords: cultural heritage; humanities; museums; history; archives; digital; virtual; visualizing interfaces
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