Search Results (503)

Heyang Fragrance, a traditional incense dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD), was recently inscribed on China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage. This study aimed to systematically analyze three variants of Heyang Fragrance (Aicao, Qinqiang, and Jianjia) through integrated methodologies including electronic nose analysis, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and antimicrobial activity assays. We selected Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida glabrata for the antimicrobial activity assays. Comparative analysis revealed significant compositional differences between pre- and post-combustion volatile profiles. Upon ignition, sensor response values increased by 50–100% relative to baseline measurements, with sulfides, terpenes, and short-chain alkanes emerging as dominant components. Qinqiang demonstrated the highest odor activity values (OAVs), particularly through carvacrol (OAV = 6676.60) and eugenol (OAV = 2720.84), which collectively contributed to its complex aromatic characteristics. Antimicrobial assessments revealed concentration-dependent efficacy, with Qinqiang exhibiting broad antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (11.33 mm inhibition zone) and Bacillus subtilis (15.00 mm), while Jianjia showed maximal effectiveness against Bacillus subtilis (17.67 mm). These findings underscore the dual significance of Heyang Fragrance in cultural conservation and its prospective applications in aroma therapeutic and antimicrobial contexts. Full article

Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints are one of the most representative traditional multicolor woodblock print forms from the Jiangnan region of China and are recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage at the provincial level in Jiangsu. However, the development of mechanized and high-tech production methods, combined with the declining role of traditional festive customs in modern society, has posed significant challenges to the preservation and transmission of this art form. Existing digital preservation efforts mainly focus on two-dimensional scanning and archival storage, largely neglecting the essential processes of color separation and multicolor overprinting. In this study, a digital restoration method is proposed that integrates image processing, color clustering, and edge detection techniques for the efficient reconstruction of the traditional multicolor woodblock overprinting process. The approach applies the K-means++ clustering algorithm to extract the dominant colors and reconstruct individual color layers, in combination with CIELAB color space transformation to enhance color difference perception and improve segmentation accuracy. To address the uncertainty in determining the number of color layers, the elbow method, silhouette coefficient, and Calinski-Harabasz index are employed as clustering evaluation methods to identify the optimal number of clusters. The proposed approach enables the generation of complete, standardized digital color separations, providing a practical pathway for efficient reproduction and intelligent application of TWNY Prints, contributing to the digital preservation and innovative revitalization of intangible cultural heritage. Full article

Authenticity in heritage conservation is theoretically and practically complex, dynamic and frequently contested. In conservation practice, through the decisions directing the processes of protection, restoration, adaptation, presentation and interpretation, there will be multiple interpretations of what denotes authenticity, and what is considered to be authentic by different actors. The purpose of the paper is to discuss alternative approaches to the determination of authenticity within the framework of current day conservation theories and heritage discourses. In this paper I propose that authenticity is situation specific and exists on a scale and as such is determinable using cultural perspectives and value-based assessment tools. Positioning authenticity as being dynamic and situation-specific, this research sets out to construct a framework through which the different perspectives involved in decision making are better acknowledged and the determinants of authenticity can be more clearly captured. The research utilizes the context of urban heritage conservation in the Arabian Peninsula to demonstrate how different approaches to conservation are evaluated in terms of authenticity. Full article

This article explores the papacy as a multifaceted form of cultural heritage, emphasizing the pope not only as a religious leader but also as a living symbol and institutional embodiment of Catholic heritage. Positioned at the intersection of theology, history, and heritage science, the study seeks to bridge the gap between spiritual authority and cultural memory by introducing a novel interpretive category: the pope as a living component of intangible religious heritage. The research combines a comprehensive literature review with an analysis of papal documentation, especially papal constitutions. Special attention is given to public engagement with the papacy, as reflected in internet search trends during significant ecclesiastical events such as papal deaths and conclaves. The results indicate that the pope functions as a living link in the continuity of Catholic identity, with digital indicators revealing peaks of global interest aligned with pivotal moments in Church leadership. The study also defines the roles and functions of the pope as a narrative bearer, initiator, and symbolic custodian of papal cultural heritage. Overall, the findings reinforce the papacy’s dual role as both a theological and sociocultural institution, offering new perspectives for understanding religious leadership as a medium of cultural transmission and public relevance in a digitized world. Full article

Background: Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage was officially recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 6 December 2023, highlighting that elements of midwifery knowledge and practice, shaped over generations, constitute cultural heritage worth safeguarding. While previous studies have investigated midwives’ perceptions of professional identity, none have done so within the explicit framework of MIH. Objective: this study explored how midwives and student midwives in Cyprus perceive the intangible heritage of their profession and how it relates to their shared professional identity. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between April and July 2023. Three focus groups were held, involving 22 participants: 15 registered midwives and 7 student midwives. A semi-structured interview guide consisting of 10 questions was used, developed by the lead author (M.P.) based on the literature and improvisation and finalized with the research team (E.H., S.V., N.M.) after expert input. Thematic analysis was performed inductively to identify recurrent themes. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) key elements of Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage and their transmission across generations; (2) a sense of shared professional identity; (3) perceived threats to the midwifery profession; and (4) midwives’ expectations for the future of the profession. Conclusions: The findings reflect the historical background of midwifery in Cyprus and its contrast with contemporary practice, particularly within the context of the overmedicalization of birth and societal perceptions of midwifery in the socio-cultural setting. Safeguarding Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage requires both empowering women to seek midwifery-led care and enabling midwives to practice autonomously within their full professional scope. In addition, policymakers and educational bodies must support the preservation of midwives’ core skills through targeted educational curricula, structured mentorship, and continuous professional development. Full article

Climate change poses an escalating threat to cultural heritage (CH), driven by intensifying climate-related hazards and systemic vulnerabilities. In response, risk assessment frameworks and methodologies (RAFMs) have emerged to evaluate and guide adaptation strategies for safeguarding heritage assets. This study conducts a state-of-the-art (SotA) review of 86 unique RAFMs using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic approach to assess their scope, methodological rigor, alignment with global climate and disaster risk reduction (DRR) frameworks, and consistency in conceptual definitions of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Results reveal a growing integration of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-based climate projections and alignment with international policy instruments such as the Sendai Framework and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). However, notable gaps persist, including definitional inconsistencies, particularly in the misapplication of vulnerability concepts; fragmented and case-specific methodologies that challenge comparability; and limited integration of intangible heritage. Best practices include participatory stakeholder engagement, scenario-based modeling, and incorporation of multi-scale risk typologies. This review advocates for more standardized, interdisciplinary, and policy-aligned frameworks that enable scalable, culturally sensitive, and action-oriented risk assessments, ultimately strengthening the resilience of cultural heritage in a changing climate. Full article

As a cultural corridor connecting the Central Plains and Northeast China, the Liaoxi Corridor has a special position in the transmission of traditional Chinese culture. Traditional villages in the region have preserved rich intangible cultural heritage and traditional architectural features, which highlight the historical heritage of multicultural intermingling. This study fills the gap in the spatial distribution of traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor and reveals their spatial distribution pattern, which is of great theoretical significance. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis and quantitative geography, this study analyzes the spatial pattern of traditional villages and the influencing factors. The results show that traditional villages in the Liaoxi Corridor are clustered, forming high-density settlement areas in Chaoyang County and Beizhen City. Most villages are located in hilly and mountainous areas and river valleys and are affected by the natural geographic environment (topography and water sources) and historical and human factors (immigration and settlement, border defense, ethnic integration, etc.). In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis and practical reference for rural revitalization, cultural heritage protection, and regional coordinated development, aiming at revealing the geographical and cultural mechanisms behind the spatial distribution of traditional villages. Full article

The development of the Great Wall National Cultural Park has unleashed the potential for integrating cultural and tourism development along the Great Wall. However, ICH along the Great Wall, a key part of its cultural identity, suffers from low recognition and a mismatch between protection and development efforts. This study analyzes provincial-level and above ICH along Hebei’s Great Wall using geospatial tools and the Geographical Detector model to explore distribution patterns and influencing factors, while Geographically Weighted Regression is utilized to reveal spatial heterogeneity. It tests two hypotheses: (H1) ICH shows a clustered pattern; (H2) economic factors have a greater impact than cultural and natural factors. Key findings show: (1) ICH distribution is numerically balanced north–south but spatially uneven, with dense clusters in the south and scattered patterns in the north. (2) ICH and crafts cluster significantly, while dramatic balladry spreads evenly, and other categories are random. (3) Average annual temperature and precipitation have the greatest impact on ICH distribution, with the factors ranked as: natural > cultural > economic. Multidimensional interactions show significant enhancement effects. (4) Influencing factors vary spatially. Population density, transport, temperature, and traditional villages are positively related to ICH. Elevation, precipitation, tourism, and cultural institutions show mixed effects across regions. These insights support targeted ICH conservation and sustainable development in the Great Wall cultural corridor. Full article

This study examines how a visitor-centered approach enhances engagement, participation, and intangible heritage transmission to support cultural sustainability in ethnographic museums. We conducted online and on-site behavioral observations, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews at the She Ethnic Minority Museum to identify gaps in current visitor experience design. We combined the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Contextual Model of Learning (POE) and Emotional Experience Theory (EET) to develop a hierarchical evaluation model. The model comprises one goal layer, three criterion layers (Experience, Participation, Transmission), and twelve sub-criteria, each evaluated across People, Object, and Environment dimensions. Quantitative weighting revealed that participation exerts the greatest influence, followed by transmission and experience. Findings indicate that targeted interventions promoting active participation most effectively foster emotional resonance and heritage transmission, while strategies supporting intergenerational engagement and immersive experiences also play a significant role. We recommend prioritizing small-scale, low-cost participatory initiatives and integrating online and offline community engagement to establish a participatory chain where engagement leads to meaningful experiences and sustained cultural transmission. These insights offer practical guidance for museum practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance visitor experiences and ensure the long-term preservation and vibrancy of ethnic minority cultural heritage. Full article

This paper presents a conceptual and methodological framework for using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to “deep map” cultural heritage sites along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, with a focus on the 1588 Spanish Armada wrecks in County Kerry and archaeological landscapes in County Sligo’s “Yeats Country.” Drawing on interdisciplinary dialogues from the humanities, social sciences, and geospatial sciences, it illustrates how digital spatial technologies can excavate, preserve, and sustain intangible cultural knowledge embedded within such palimpsestic landscapes. Using MAXQDA 24 software to mine and code historical, literary, folkloric, and environmental texts, the study constructed bespoke GIS attribute tables and visualizations integrated with elevation models and open-source archaeological data. The result is a richly layered cartographic method that reveals the spectral and affective dimensions of heritage landscapes through climate, memory, literature, and spatial storytelling. By engaging with “deep mapping” and theories such as “Spectral Geography,” the research offers new avenues for sustainable heritage conservation, cultural tourism, and public education that are sensitive to both ecological and cultural resilience in the West of Ireland. Full article

This paper investigates the cultural landscapes established by nineteenth-century German immigrants in South Australia and the southern Riverina of New South Wales, with particular attention to settlement patterns, architectural traditions and toponymic transformation. German immigration to Australia, though numerically modest compared to the Americas, significantly shaped local communities, especially due to religious cohesion among Lutheran migrants. These settlers established distinct, enduring rural enclaves characterized by linguistic, religious and architectural continuity. The paper examines three manifestations of these cultural landscapes. A rich toponymic landscape was created by imposing on natural landscape features and newly founded settlements the names of the communities from which the German settlers originated. It discusses the erosion of German toponyms under wartime nationalist pressures, the subsequent partial reinstatement and the implications for cultural memory. The study traces the second manifestation of a cultural landscapes in the form of nucleated villages such as Hahndorf, Bethanien and Lobethal, which often followed the Hufendorf or Straßendorf layout, integrating Silesian land-use principles into the Australian context. Intensification of land use through housing subdivisions in two communities as well as agricultural intensification through broad acre farming has led to the fragmentation (town) and obliteration (rural) of the uniquely German form of land use. The final focus is the material expression of cultural identity through architecture, particularly the use of traditional Fachwerk (half-timbered) construction and adaptations such as pug-and-pine walling suited to local materials and climate. The paper examines domestic forms, including the distinctive black kitchen, and highlights how environmental and functional adaptation reshaped German building traditions in the antipodes. Despite a conservation movement and despite considerable documentation research in the late twentieth century, the paper shows that most German rural structures remain unlisted and vulnerable. Heritage neglect, rural depopulation, economic rationalization, lack of commercial relevance and local government policy have accelerated the decline of many of these vernacular buildings. The study concludes by problematizing the sustainability of conserving German Australian rural heritage in the face of regulatory, economic and demographic pressures. With its layering of intangible (toponymic), structural (buildings) and land use (cadastral) features, the examination of the cultural landscape established by nineteenth-century German immigrants adds to the body of literature on immigrant communities, settler colonialism and landscape research. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the microbial dynamics involved in the fermentation process of traditional Musalais wine, an intangible cultural heritage of Xinjiang. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing, we identified 2894 microbial species, of which 494 persisted throughout the fermentation process. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the dominant species, with its prevalence increasing from 97.35% in the early phase to 99.38% in the mid phase, before slightly decreasing to 98.79% in the late phase. Additionally, 24 non-Saccharomyces yeast species, including Hanseniaspora uvarum, Lachancea thermotolerans, and Torulaspora delbrueckii, were detected. Common species associated with other fermented foods, including Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccharomyces eubayanus, and Zygosaccharomyces parabailii, were also identified. Notably, species not previously used in food fermentation, such as Saccharomyces jurei, Sodiomyces alkalinus, Vanrija pseudolonga, and Moesziomyces antarcticus, were also identified in this study. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KO) and Gene Ontology (GO) revealed notable variations in metabolic pathways and enriched functional genes. In addition, a total of 82 volatile compounds were detected in the final product, with higher alcohols (60.12%), esters (37.80%), and organic acids (1.80%) being the most prevalent. These results offer important insights into microbial interactions and their influence on Musalais wine quality, laying the groundwork for optimizing the fermentation process. Full article

The preservation and protection of historic urban centers in climate-sensitive coastal areas contributes to the promotion of culture as a driver and enabler of achieving temporal and spatial sustainability, as it is recognized that urban heritage is an integral part of the urban landscape, culture, and economy. The aim of this study was to enhance the resilience and protection of cultural heritage and historic urban centers (HUCs) in the coastal area of Kaštela, Croatia, by providing recommendations and action guidelines in response to climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, sea levels, storms, droughts, and flooding. Preserving HUCs is essential to maintain their cultural values, original structures, and appearance. Many ancient coastal Roman HUCs lie partially or entirely below mean sea level, while low-lying medieval castles, urban areas, and modern developments are increasingly at risk. Based on vulnerability assessments, targeted mitigation and adaptation measures were proposed to address HUC vulnerability sources. The Historical Urban Landscape Approach tool was used to transition and manage HUCs, linking past, present, and future hazard contexts to enable rational, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions. The effective protection of HUCs requires a deeper understanding of the evolution of urban development, climate dynamics, and the natural environments, including both tangible and intangible urban heritage elements. The “hazard-specific” vulnerability assessment framework, which incorporates hazard-relevant indicators of sensitivity and adaptive capacity, was a practical tool for risk reduction. This method relies on analyzing the historical performance and physical characteristics of the system, without necessitating additional simulations of transformation processes. Full article

Oases in arid regions are critical ecosystems, providing essential ecological, agricultural, and socio-economic functions. However, urbanization and climate change increasingly threaten their sustainability. This study examines land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics in four representative North African oases: Tolga (Algeria), Nefta (Tunisia), Ghadames (Libya), and Siwa (Egypt) over the period 2000–2023, using Landsat satellite imagery. A three-step analysis was employed: calculation of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), and LST, followed by supervised land cover classification and statistical tests to examine the relationships between the studied variables. The results reveal substantial reductions in bare soil (e.g., 48.10% in Siwa) and notable urban expansion (e.g., 136.01% in Siwa and 48.46% in Ghadames). Vegetation exhibited varied trends, with a slight decline in Tolga (0.26%) and a significant increase in Siwa (+27.17%). LST trends strongly correlated with land cover changes, demonstrating increased temperatures in urbanized areas and moderated temperatures in vegetated zones. Notably, this study highlights that traditional urban designs integrated with dense palm groves significantly mitigate thermal stress, achieving lower LST compared to modern urban expansions characterized by sparse, heat-absorbing surfaces. In contrast, areas dominated by fragmented vegetation or seasonal crops exhibited reduced cooling capacity, underscoring the critical role of vegetation type, spatial arrangement, and urban morphology in regulating oasis microclimates. Preserving palm groves, which are increasingly vulnerable to heat-driven pests, diseases and the introduction of exotic species grown for profit, together with a revival of the traditional compact urban fabric that provides shade and has been empirically confirmed by other oasis studies to moderate the microclimate more effectively than recent low-density extensions, will maintain the crucial synergy between buildings and vegetation, enhance the cooling capacity of these settlements, and safeguard their tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Full article

With the growing impact of environmental challenges, the need for well-planned and effectively executed actions to support progress and sustainable social development has become increasingly evident. Geoparks play a vital role in this endeavor by fostering the development of products that celebrate local heritage and promote its conservation, utilizing the natural and cultural resources unique to each region in sustainable ways. Geoproducts, in particular, aim to enrich cultural identity and elevate the value of the landscape and geodiversity by integrating communities into innovative approaches and technologies, engaging them in commercialization, and ensuring sustainability alongside social inclusion. Within the framework of the Safi Geopark Project, this article delves into the concept of geoproducts, their definitions, and their potential to bolster local identity and social and economic development. Leveraging the abundant geological and cultural resources of Safi province, the study presents both tangible and intangible geoproducts that merge traditional craftsmanship with modern sustainability practices. Notable examples include ammonite-inspired ceramics, educational materials, and eco-friendly cosmetics, each carefully designed to reflect and celebrate the region’s geoheritage. This article underscores the crucial role of community involvement in the creation of geoproducts, highlighting their impact on conservation, education, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. By proposing actionable strategies, this study not only broadens the understanding of geoproducts within geoparks but also reinforces their importance as instruments for regional development, heritage conservation, and sustainable economic growth. Full article