Heritage

59 pages, 4837 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Human–AI Compass for Sustainable Art Museums: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in Operations, Collections Management, and Visitor Engagement

by Charis Avlonitou, Eirini Papadaki and Alexandros Apostolakis

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100422 (registering DOI) - 5 Oct 2025

Abstract

This paper charts AI’s transformative path toward advancing sustainability within art museums, introducing a Human–AI compass as a conceptual framework for navigating its integration. It advocates for human-centric AI that optimizes operations, modernizes collection management, and deepens visitor engagement—anchored in meaningful human–technology synergy [...] Read more.

This paper charts AI’s transformative path toward advancing sustainability within art museums, introducing a Human–AI compass as a conceptual framework for navigating its integration. It advocates for human-centric AI that optimizes operations, modernizes collection management, and deepens visitor engagement—anchored in meaningful human–technology synergy and thoughtful human oversight. Drawing on extensive literature review and real-world museum case studies, the paper explores AI’s multifaceted impact across three domains. Firstly, it examines how AI improves operations, from audience forecasting and resource optimization to refining marketing, supporting conservation, and reshaping curatorial practices. Secondly, it investigates AI’s influence on digital collection management, highlighting its ability to improve organization, searchability, analysis, and interpretation through automated metadata and advanced pattern recognition. Thirdly, the study analyzes how AI elevates the visitor experience via chatbots, audio guides, and interactive applications, leveraging personalization, recommendation systems, and co-creation opportunities. Crucially, this exploration acknowledges AI’s complex challenges—technical-operational, ethical-governance, socioeconomic-cultural, and environmental—underscoring the indispensable role of human judgment in steering its implementation. The Human-AI compass offers a balanced, strategic approach for aligning innovation with human values, ethical principles, museum mission, and sustainability. The study provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners and policymakers, enriching the broader discourse on AI’s growing role in the art and cultural sector. Full article

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33 pages, 1030 KB

Open AccessReview

Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage: A Narrative Review of Design, Development and Evaluation Approaches

by Anna Chatsiopoulou and Panagiotis D. Michailidis

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100421 (registering DOI) - 5 Oct 2025

Abstract

Cultural heritage is important for every group and society, as it represents a part of their identity and helps preserve traditions, along with significant tangible and intangible elements. These elements are not only passed on to future generations but also play a role [...] Read more.

Cultural heritage is important for every group and society, as it represents a part of their identity and helps preserve traditions, along with significant tangible and intangible elements. These elements are not only passed on to future generations but also play a role in education today. Many studies have examined digital applications that promote cultural heritage, particularly those that use Augmented Reality (AR) technology. However, few have systematically examined the methodologies used in the design, development and evaluation of AR applications for cultural heritage. This narrative review addresses that gap by analyzing 45 papers published between 2008 and 2024 from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The review identifies the main motivations for AR applications, such as enhancing the learning experience, promoting tourism and the use of gamification. The majority of these applications concentrate on tangible cultural heritage, such as historical buildings and cultural routes, while intangible heritage remains less explored. In most cases, AR applications were developed with a focus on user experience, using various development tools and showing different levels of technical complexity. Although many applications initiated evaluation processes, few completed them thoroughly. These evaluations vary widely, ranging from usability tests to pre-/post-tests. The results generally report positive impacts in terms of learning and user experience. This review offers a structured framework and useful insights for researchers regarding the design and evaluation of AR applications and helps identify research gaps and limitations for future work. Full article

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16 pages, 392 KB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Etiology and Demographic Distribution of Enamel Hypoplasia

by Claudia Moro, Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Giuseppe Lanza Attisano, Daniele Maria Gibelli, Federica Boschi, Danilo De Angelis and Cristina Cattaneo

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100420 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

Enamel hypoplasia (EH) is a stress marker commonly used in bioarcheological research to investigate health during growth. However, its analysis in contemporary samples allows for additional avenues of research, including comparison with medical records. The aim of the present research is to explore [...] Read more.

Enamel hypoplasia (EH) is a stress marker commonly used in bioarcheological research to investigate health during growth. However, its analysis in contemporary samples allows for additional avenues of research, including comparison with medical records. The aim of the present research is to explore the influence of biological sex and socioeconomic status on the distribution of EH and examine the factors that contribute to the development of this defect. In this perspective, analysis of dentition was conducted on 132 individuals, with known information about age, biological sex, nationality, medical records, and socioeconomic status. Statistical analysis was conducted using Fisher’s test and the chi-square test. As a result, EH was observed more frequently among individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, while a significant association was observed with socioeconomic status, evidencing a strong association between EH presence and structural vulnerability (chi-square, p = 0.04). The frequency of EH between sexes was not significant; however, a higher frequency was observed among males (chi-square, p = 0.94). We hypothesize that the impact of female biological buffering might be reduced in the European sample, as this result aligns with background information of the context. These results align with the research hypotheses and reinforce the multifactorial etiology of EH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Analysis of Bioarchaeology, Skeletal Biology and Evolution)

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21 pages, 3223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Degradation Mechanism of Zinc White Acrylic Paint: Uneven Distribution of Damage Under Artificial Aging

by Mais Khadur, Victor Ivanov, Artem Gusenkov, Alexander Gulin, Marina Soloveva, Yulia Diakonova, Yulian Khalturin and Victor Nadtochenko

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100419 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

Accelerated artificial aging of zinc oxide (ZnO)-based acrylic artists’ paint, filled with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as an extender, was carried out for a total of 1963 h (~8 × 10⁷ lux·h), with assessments at specific intervals. The total color difference [...] Read more.

Accelerated artificial aging of zinc oxide (ZnO)-based acrylic artists’ paint, filled with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as an extender, was carried out for a total of 1963 h (~8 × 10⁷ lux·h), with assessments at specific intervals. The total color difference ΔE* was <2 (CIELab-76 system) over 1725 h of aging, while the human eye notices color change at ΔE* > 2. Oxidative degradation of organic components in the paint to form volatile products was revealed by attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). It appears that deep oxidation of organic intermediates and volatilization of organic matter may be responsible for the relatively small value of ΔE* color difference during aging of the samples. To elucidate the degradation pathways, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the spectral data, revealing: (1) the catalytic role of ZnO in accelerating photodegradation, (2) the Kolbe photoreaction, (3) the decomposition of the binder to form volatile degradation products, and (4) the relative photoinactivity of CaCO₃ compared with ZnO, showing slower degradation in areas with a higher CaCO₃ content compared with those dominated by ZnO. These results provide fundamental insights into formulation-specific degradation processes, offering practical guidance for the development of more durable artist paints and conservation strategies for acrylic artworks. Full article

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17 pages, 52052 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Low-Cost Lighting Filters for Color-Accurate Imaging in a Cultural Heritage Context

by Sahara R. Smith and Susan P. Farnand

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100418 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

Color accuracy is both important and elusive in cultural heritage imaging. An established method for improving color accuracy is dual-RGB imaging, where RGB images of an object are captured sequentially under two different conditions and then combined. As part of an initiative to [...] Read more.

Color accuracy is both important and elusive in cultural heritage imaging. An established method for improving color accuracy is dual-RGB imaging, where RGB images of an object are captured sequentially under two different conditions and then combined. As part of an initiative to increase accessibility to color-accurate imaging, the use of lighting filters with the dual-RGB method is investigated. Gel lighting filters are low-cost and can be directly integrated into an imaging workflow by placing them in front of the existing light sources. This research found that color accuracy can be increased by using lighting filters, but it can also be decreased by a poor selection of filter combinations. The identity of the best-performing filters is highly dependent on the light source and can be affected by the pixels selected to represent the color target. Current simulation approaches are insufficient to predict which filters will increase color accuracy. While lighting filters are a promising method for accessible multispectral imaging, their practical implementation is complex and requires further research and adjustments to the method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Cultural Heritage Diagnostics)

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17 pages, 2879 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Hyperspectral Imaging and Robotics: A Novel Approach to Analysing Cultural Heritage Artefacts

by Agnese Babini, Selene Frascella, Gregory Sech, Fabrizio Andriulo, Ferdinando Cannella, Gabriele Marchello and Arianna Traviglia

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100417 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

This paper pioneers the integration of hyperspectral imaging and robotics for the automated analysis of cultural heritage, representing a measurable advancement over existing manually operated systems. For the first time in the cultural heritage domain, a compact push-broom hyperspectral camera working in the [...] Read more.

This paper pioneers the integration of hyperspectral imaging and robotics for the automated analysis of cultural heritage, representing a measurable advancement over existing manually operated systems. For the first time in the cultural heritage domain, a compact push-broom hyperspectral camera working in the VNIR range has been successfully mounted on a robotic arm, enabling precise and repeatable acquisition trajectories without the need for manual intervention. Unlike traditional approaches that rely on fixed paths or manual repositioning, the proposed approach allows dynamic and programmable imaging of both planar and volumetric objects, greatly improving adaptability to complex geometries. The integrated system achieves spectral reliability comparable to established manual methods, while offering superior flexibility and scalability. Current limitations, particularly regarding the illumination setup, are discussed alongside planned optimisation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Digital Heritage)

17 pages, 2869 KB

Open AccessArticle

Romanino’s Colour Palette in the “Musicians” Fresco of the Duomo Vecchio, Brescia

by Fatemeh Taati Anbuhi, Alfonso Zoleo, Barbara Savy and Gilberto Artioli

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100416 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

This study examines the pigments and materials used in Girolamo Romanino’s Musicians fresco (1537–1538), located in the Duomo Vecchio in Brescia, with the aim of identifying and analyzing the artist’s colour palette. Ten samples of the pictorial layer and mortar were collected from [...] Read more.

This study examines the pigments and materials used in Girolamo Romanino’s Musicians fresco (1537–1538), located in the Duomo Vecchio in Brescia, with the aim of identifying and analyzing the artist’s colour palette. Ten samples of the pictorial layer and mortar were collected from two frescoes and characterized using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to define the best positions where single-point, spectroscopic techniques could be applied. Raman spectroscopy and micro-Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) were used to detect pigments and organic binders, respectively. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) provided additional insights into the mineral composition of the pigmenting layers, in combination with environmental scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS). The analysis revealed the use of traditional fresco pigments, including calcite, carbon black, ochres, and copper-based pigments. Smalt, manganese earths, and gold were also identified, reflecting Romanino’s approach to colour and material selection. Additionally, the detection of modern pigments such as titanium white and baryte points to restoration interventions, shedding light on the fresco’s conservation history. This research provides one of the most comprehensive analyses of pigments in Romanino’s works, contributing to a deeper understanding of his artistic practices and contemporary fresco techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interdisciplinary Applications of Spectroscopic Techniques for Heritage Conservation)

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50 pages, 4247 KB

Open AccessArticle

Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies

by Maria Diletta Pubblico

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

This study presents the first systematic investigation of ancient Egyptian votive animal mummy wrappings, based on the analysis of an extensive dataset encompassing specimens from various museum collections and archaeologicalcontexts. The research addresses the long-standing neglect and fragmented understanding of the wrapping chaîne [...] Read more.

This study presents the first systematic investigation of ancient Egyptian votive animal mummy wrappings, based on the analysis of an extensive dataset encompassing specimens from various museum collections and archaeologicalcontexts. The research addresses the long-standing neglect and fragmented understanding of the wrapping chaîne opératoire and aims to establish a consistent terminology, as the different stages of the wrapping sequence, bundle shapes, and decorative patterns have often been described vaguely. Through an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates photogrammetry, colorant identification, textile analysis, and experimental archeology, the study explores the complexity of wrapping practices across their different stages. This approach offers new insights into the structural logic, raw material selection, and design conventions behind this production. The analysis reveals that the bundles exhibit standardized shapes and decorative patterns grounded in well-established visual criteria and manufacturing sequences. These findings demonstrate that the wrappings reflect a codified visual language and a high level of technical knowledge, deeply rooted in Egyptian tradition. The study also emphasizes its economic implications: the wrapping significantly enhanced the perceived value of the offering, becoming the primary element influencing both its material and symbolic worth. Ultimately, this work provides an interpretative framework for understanding wrapping as an essential medium of ritual sacralization for votive animal mummies, allowing the individual prayer to be effectively conveyed to the intended deity. Consequently, this research marks a significant step forward in advancing the technical, aesthetic, and ritual insight of wrapping practices, which preserve a wealth of still-overlooked information. Full article

20 pages, 3230 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Ultradolichocephaly in a Knight of the Order of Calatrava from the Castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain) Dated Between the 13th and 15th Centuries

by Carme Rissech, Oscar Creo, Blanca Revuelta, Susana Cobo, Dionisio Urbina, Catalina Urquijo, Philip Banks and Lluís Lloveras

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100414 - 3 Oct 2025

Abstract

This study presents a paleopathological analysis of individual T4.2 from the archaeological site of the castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain). The individual exhibits ultradolichocephaly and was dated between the 13th and 15th centuries. Based on the context, the individual could [...] Read more.

This study presents a paleopathological analysis of individual T4.2 from the archaeological site of the castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain). The individual exhibits ultradolichocephaly and was dated between the 13th and 15th centuries. Based on the context, the individual could have been a member of the military–religious Order of Calatrava. Standard bioanthropological and paleopathological methods were applied. The results indicate a male aged between 45 and 49 years with a maximum cranial length and width of 230 mm and 122 mm, respectively. The cranial index (53%) allows him to be classified as ultradolichocephalic. The remains present craniosynostosis at the sagittal, squamosal and sphenofrontal sutures, together with underdevelopment of the skull base width and a dolichognathic mandible with the possible presence of type III prognathism. The left hemimandible and hemimaxilla display a large amount of tartar covering the occlusal, labial and lingual areas of the teeth completely. The right hemimandible and hemimaxilla exhibit almost no tartar, and some teeth were lost in vivo. In addition, two stab wounds—to the external occipital protuberance and to the left temple—as well as a contused injury in the left tibia, can be observed without evidence of bone remodeling. Differential diagnosis indicates a case consistent with Crouzon syndrome. This individual is of particular significance because he was a possibly knight of the Order of Calatrava who presents a syndromic craniosynostosis consistent with Crouzon syndrome and exhibits lesions, which may suggest that he could have died in battle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Palaeopathological Analysis Applied to Forensic and Archaeological Studies)

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19 pages, 3315 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Resilience and Communication Strategies in Underfunded Museums in Argentina and Spain (2020–2024)

by Ana Martí-Testón, Lucía Lanusse, Juan José Climent-Ferrer, Adolfo Muñoz, J. Ernesto Solanes and Luis Gracia

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100413 - 2 Oct 2025

Abstract

Between 2020 and 2024, museums underwent accelerated digital transformation driven by the global health crisis and technological advances, exposing deep inequalities in access to technology and communication capabilities. Museums with limited resources had to rethink their digital strategies to sustain audience engagement and [...] Read more.

Between 2020 and 2024, museums underwent accelerated digital transformation driven by the global health crisis and technological advances, exposing deep inequalities in access to technology and communication capabilities. Museums with limited resources had to rethink their digital strategies to sustain audience engagement and cultural relevance. This article presents a comparative study of museums in Argentina and Spain with restricted budgets, analyzing how they responded to challenges of uncertainty and scarcity. Using a mixed methodology—surveys of 22 professionals, interviews with directors of four representative museums, and qualitative case studies—this study examines the implemented solutions and their impacts. The findings highlight innovative practices grounded in creativity, strategic alliances, and intensive use of social media. Argentine museums excelled in tactical adaptation amid economic instability, while Spanish institutions showed stronger strategic planning. Private museums proved more flexible than their public counterparts, which faced greater bureaucratic constraints. This work contributes to debates on institutional resilience and offers a framework for sustainable digital communication in resource-limited contexts. Full article

32 pages, 4086 KB

Open AccessArticle

Let the Lead Tags Talk—Terms on Carnuntum Tesserae Referring to Textiles, Colours and Dyeing in the 2nd Century CE

by Regina Hofmann-de Keijzer, Ivan Radman-Livaja, Ines Bogensperger, Andreas G. Heiss and Beatrix Petznek

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100412 - 1 Oct 2025

Abstract

In the Roman Empire, lead tags were used for various purposes, one of which was to label textiles that needed cleaning, repairing or dyeing. So far, these tesserae have been found at over 90 sites in 13 Roman provinces. The cities of Siscia [...] Read more.

In the Roman Empire, lead tags were used for various purposes, one of which was to label textiles that needed cleaning, repairing or dyeing. So far, these tesserae have been found at over 90 sites in 13 Roman provinces. The cities of Siscia and Carnuntum in Pannonia Superior have the highest number of finds. In 2011, a Roman cesspit was excavated in the civil city of Carnuntum and dated to the mid-2nd century CE. The latrine contained household and food waste, human faeces, pottery shards, pollen, lime, amber and 179 lead tags. The tags bear inscriptions consisting of personal names, prices, and abbreviations of terms relating to garments, colours and services such as cleaning, mending, repairing, fulling, fumigating, perfuming, dyeing, and redyeing. The findings of Roman textiles unearthed in Carnuntum are too degraded to allow a successful dye analysis to be carried out. Therefore, the inscriptions are important sources for drawing conclusions about dyeing materials and techniques. This information was supplemented by ancient written sources as well as archaeobotanical finds of dye plants and dye analyses of archaeological textiles found in Central Europe dating from the same period or earlier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dyes in History and Archaeology 43)

23 pages, 315 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ships Arriving at Ports and Tales of Shipwrecks: Heterotopia and Seafaring, 16th to 18th Centuries

by Ana Crespo-Solana

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100411 - 30 Sep 2025

Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide a critical analysis of maritime heterotopia as a category for reinterpreting ships, shipwrecks and maritime landscapes between the 16th and 18th centuries. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining history, underwater archaeology, heritage theory and literary analysis, [...] Read more.

The objective of this article is to provide a critical analysis of maritime heterotopia as a category for reinterpreting ships, shipwrecks and maritime landscapes between the 16th and 18th centuries. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining history, underwater archaeology, heritage theory and literary analysis, it explores the ways in which maritime spaces, especially ships and shipwrecks, functioned as ‘other spaces’–following Foucault’s concept of heterotopia–in the articulation of imperial projects, power relations, experiences of transit and narratives of memory. A particular focus has been placed on the examination of shipwreck accounts, which are regarded as microhistories of human behaviour in contexts of crisis. These accounts have been shown to offer insights into alternative social structures, dynamics of authority, and manifestations of violence or solidarity. A review of the legal framework and practices related to shipwrecks in the Spanish Carrera de Indias is also undertaken, with particular emphasis on their impact on maritime legislation and international law. This article proposes a reading of maritime heritage as a symbolic and political device in constant dispute, where material remains and associated narratives shape collective memories, geopolitical tensions and new forms of cultural appropriation. Shipwrecks thus become sites of rupture and origin, charged with utopian, dystopian and heterotopic potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Underwater Heritage)

15 pages, 3046 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Semantic Interoperability of Heritage BIM-Based Asset Preservation

by Karol Argasiński and Artur Tomczak

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100410 - 30 Sep 2025

Abstract

Preservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) demands precise and comprehensive information representation to document, analyse, and manage assets effectively. While Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitates as-is state documentation, challenges in semantic interoperability of complex cultural data often limit its potential in heritage contexts. This [...] Read more.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) demands precise and comprehensive information representation to document, analyse, and manage assets effectively. While Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitates as-is state documentation, challenges in semantic interoperability of complex cultural data often limit its potential in heritage contexts. This study investigates the integration of BIM tools with the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) platform to enhance semantic interoperability for heritage assets. Using a proof-of-concept approach, the research focuses on a historic tenement house in Tarnów, Poland, modelled with the IFC schema standard and enriched with the MIDAS heritage classification system. The methodology includes transforming the classification system into bSDD data dictionary, publishing thesauri for components, materials, and monument types, and semantic enrichment of the model using Bonsai (formerly BlenderBIM) plugin for Blender. Results demonstrate improved consistency, accuracy, and usability of BIM data for heritage preservation. The integration ensures detailed documentation and facilitates interoperability across platforms, addressing preservation challenges with enriched narratives of cultural significance. This method supports future predictive models for heritage asset conservation, emphasizing the importance of data quality and interoperability in safeguarding shared cultural heritage for future generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and New Technologies: NextGen Innovations in Preservation and Education)

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26 pages, 339 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Heritage Diplomacy Spectrum: A Multidimensional Typology of Strategic, Ethical, and Symbolic Engagements

by Izabella Parowicz

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100409 - 29 Sep 2025

Abstract

Cultural heritage is increasingly mobilized as a tool of international engagement, yet the diplomatic uses of heritage remain conceptually underdeveloped and analytically fragmented. This paper introduces the Heritage Diplomacy Spectrum, a multidimensional framework that maps how states and affiliated actors use heritage—both [...] Read more.

Cultural heritage is increasingly mobilized as a tool of international engagement, yet the diplomatic uses of heritage remain conceptually underdeveloped and analytically fragmented. This paper introduces the Heritage Diplomacy Spectrum, a multidimensional framework that maps how states and affiliated actors use heritage—both tangible and intangible—to pursue strategic, symbolic, and normative goals in cross-border contexts. Drawing on critical heritage studies, international relations, and memory politics, this study identifies six analytical dimensions (e.g., proactive vs. reactive, cultural vs. historical, strategic vs. moral) and develops seven ideal types of heritage diplomacy, ranging from soft power projection to post-dependency and corrective diplomacy. These ideal types, constructed in the Weberian tradition, serve as heuristic tools to illuminate the varied motivations and diplomatic postures underlying heritage-based engagement. A central matrix is presented to illustrate how each type aligns with different strategic logics and affective registers. This study argues that heritage diplomacy constitutes a distinct modality of heritage governance—one that transcends soft power narratives and encompasses conflict, reconciliation, symbolic redress, and identity assertion. The framework contributes both to theory-building and policy analysis, offering a diagnostic lens through which the ethical, political, and communicative dimensions of heritage diplomacy can be more systematically understood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cultural Heritage)

16 pages, 2536 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Optimization of Tourism Spatial Structure of Linear Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal

by Shuying Zhang, Wenting Yu and Jiasheng Cui

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100408 - 29 Sep 2025

Abstract

Linear cultural heritage poses significant challenges in tourism development, primarily due to the complexities involved in implementing scientific zoning and differentiated management strategies. Systematic optimization of its tourism spatial structure has thus become crucial for achieving sustainable utilization. This study adopts a case [...] Read more.

Linear cultural heritage poses significant challenges in tourism development, primarily due to the complexities involved in implementing scientific zoning and differentiated management strategies. Systematic optimization of its tourism spatial structure has thus become crucial for achieving sustainable utilization. This study adopts a case study approach based on deductive reasoning to examine the morphological characteristics and evolutionary patterns of the tourism space along linear cultural heritage. Taking the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal as an example, it proposes a targeted optimization pathway from a spatial positioning perspective. The findings indicate that the tourism value of linear cultural heritage exhibits a “vine-shaped structure” spatially, and the development process of the tourism space structure follows the “growth pole” evolution law. Moreover, spatial optimization can be achieved through the dual dimensions of spatial form and utilization intensity. Based on this pathway, a three-level tourism zone system is constructed for the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal: the primary tourism zone, located in southern sections, such as Yangzhou and Hangzhou, serves as leading regions that play a pivotal and driving role; the secondary tourism zone, encompassing Beijing, Tianjin, Langfang, and Cangzhou, requires focused enhancement and functional upgrading; and the tertiary tourism zone, mainly including Shandong Province and Xuzhou, Suqian, in Jiangsu Province, necessitate comprehensive and integrated development to achieve overall improvement. This classification not only facilitates coordinated tourism development along the entire canal from a holistic perspective but also provides a basis for formulating targeted strategies for segments with varying tourism values and utilization intensities. Full article

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22 pages, 3413 KB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Pressures on Intangible Heritage

by Jenny Richards and Peter Brimblecombe

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100407 - 28 Sep 2025

Abstract

Intangible heritage comprises a wealth of knowledge, crafts, and skills that are passed down through the generations, embodied in our cultural practices. Many of these intertwine with landscape and environment; so, they are sensitive to climate change. While there have been studies of [...] Read more.

Intangible heritage comprises a wealth of knowledge, crafts, and skills that are passed down through the generations, embodied in our cultural practices. Many of these intertwine with landscape and environment; so, they are sensitive to climate change. While there have been studies of the impact of climate change on intangible heritage, these typically use heritage as a lens to examine climate impacts. There are few assessments of specific climate processes that threaten heritage. A climate-based approach allows researchers to identify mechanisms of change and quantify past impacts and project these into the future to give a sense of management options. We explore the threats to UNESCO domains of intangible heritage using weather and climate data from a range of sources to assess threats demonstrating the importance of data-informed approaches and show that timing of season and frequency of extreme events are important in climate-based assessments. These play out over different spatial and temporal scales that reveal elements of sensitivity to environmental change. The management response to the climate threat seems in need of a rights-based approach to empower those who own, safeguard, or practice the heritage. Research to enhance conservation should be translated into a form that speaks to local values and social structures. Full article

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15 pages, 6544 KB

Open AccessArticle

Entomological Evidence Reveals Burial Practices of Three Mummified Bodies Preserved in Northeast Italy

by Giuseppina Carta, Omar Larentis, Enrica Tonina, Ilaria Gorini and Stefano Vanin

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100406 - 28 Sep 2025

Abstract

Funerary archaeoentomology is the discipline that studies insects and other arthropods in archaeological contexts, with a particular focus on the funerary domain. The presence of specific species, such as necrophagous beetles or saprophagous flies, can provide crucial evidence regarding post-mortem conditions—whether bodies were [...] Read more.

Funerary archaeoentomology is the discipline that studies insects and other arthropods in archaeological contexts, with a particular focus on the funerary domain. The presence of specific species, such as necrophagous beetles or saprophagous flies, can provide crucial evidence regarding post-mortem conditions—whether bodies were left exposed to the air or buried suddenly after death—and whether they underwent particular preservation practices, such as desiccation or embalming. This study concentrates on entomological specimens collected from three mummified bodies at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona in the province of Verona (northeast Italy), aiming to reconstruct aspects of funerary practices, especially the season of death and the authenticity of the garments worn by the mummified individuals. Insects were manually collected from bodies belonging to three hermits living between the 17th and 19th centuries. A complex entomofauna consisting of Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and minor taxa was collected and analyzed. Diptera puparia, primarily from the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Fanniidae, were the most abundant entomological elements recovered. Their presence suggests potential exposure of the bodies before burial and indicates that death likely occurred during a mild period of the year (end of spring/beginning of autumn). The co-occurrence of holes caused by maggots on the hermits’ skin and their garments allows us to speculate about the authenticity of the clothing used during the funerary rituals. By combining entomological evidence with textile analysis, this research offers a more precise understanding of historical funerary practices within this devotional context. It sheds light on methods of managing human remains, burial traditions, and preservation techniques, particularly regarding the clothing of the deceased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Analysis of Bioarchaeology, Skeletal Biology and Evolution)

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14 pages, 2085 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tracing Local Production and Agricultural Trade: A Multi-Analytical Study of Roman Amphorae at Conímbriga (Central Portugal)

by Ida Buraca, César Oliveira, Carlo Bottaini, Vírgilio Hipólito Correia, Nicola Schiavon, José Mirão and Massimo Beltrame

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100405 - 28 Sep 2025

Abstract

Amphorae are a significant type of Roman pottery, serving as both transport containers and indicators of economic and technological practices across the Empire. Despite their importance in interpreting local economic dynamics in Roman Lusitania, the production origins, technological characteristics and functional roles of [...] Read more.

Amphorae are a significant type of Roman pottery, serving as both transport containers and indicators of economic and technological practices across the Empire. Despite their importance in interpreting local economic dynamics in Roman Lusitania, the production origins, technological characteristics and functional roles of amphorae from Conímbriga in Portugal remain poorly understood. Previous research has focused primarily on typological comparisons with imported forms, providing limited insight into whether these vessels were produced locally or how they were incorporated into regional trade and agricultural systems. This study takes a multi-analytical approach to examine a group of ten amphorae dating from the 1st to the 5th century AD. While these vessels formally resemble well-known types from Gaul and Hispania, they appear to have been manufactured locally using fabrics consistent with those found in regional common wares. To examine the raw materials, production techniques and possible contents, the analysis integrates a typological assessment with a range of archaeometric methods, including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Recent gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results contextualise these data further, enabling an exploration of how specific technological choices may have influenced or reflected the intended function of the amphorae. The findings shed new light on local ceramic production and contributed to broader debates concerning Roman provincial economies and material culture. Full article

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17 pages, 24112 KB

Open AccessArticle

BIM-to-VR for Museums: A Multilayered Representation for Integrated Access and Management of Buildings and Collections

by Ramona Quattrini, Renato Angeloni, Mirco D’Alessio and Martina Manfroni

Heritage 2025, 8(10), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100404 - 27 Sep 2025

Abstract

Museum building information modeling is an emerging research field that harnesses the potential of digitization applied to both architecture and artworks. This present work aims to innovate the current practices by integrating virtual tours and semantic-aware models while also fostering the uses of [...] Read more.

Museum building information modeling is an emerging research field that harnesses the potential of digitization applied to both architecture and artworks. This present work aims to innovate the current practices by integrating virtual tours and semantic-aware models while also fostering the uses of the informed models beyond management or professional use. The methodology consists of a 3D informed model able to manage the collection catalog, leveraging the BIM paradigm. Subsequently, a VR desktop tool is developed based on panoramic images fully interoperable with data enrichment and all the informative layers. The results demonstrate the feasibility of a workflow for a multilayer platform for museums that balances computational issues and ensures correct representation of various levels of geometry and information. The assessment in a real-world scenario through a fully operative prototype of museum BIM to VR also allows us to outline perspectives for dissemination purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBIM and Digital Technologies-Based Conservation Practices in Cultural Heritage Sites)

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