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As a result of its geographic location, cultural diversity and historical trajectory, the Gaza strip is a key zone of scholarly enquiry and has a central role in the historical, social, political, economic, legislative and environmental discourses for the wider region. Existing historical knowledge of Gaza is dominated by combative narrative trends that emphasise the events of the 20th and 21st centuries and invoke archaeology extensively. In this context, cycles of material preservation and damage—often accompanying other forms of violence—have attracted the attention of academics and international media. Among the corollaries of this situation, is the destruction and marginalisation of vulnerable cultural heritage, particularly maritime cultural heritage, which is subjected to additional environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic pressures. As a means of countering the challenges on current field research in the region and to further assess the damage and threats faced by archaeological fabric, this paper combines data from coastal and archaeological research conducted in the Gaza Strip to create a benchmark for the study of its maritime archaeology. Additional information on the alteration of coastal landscape is deduced through the analysis of aerial photographs and satellite imagery. This study falls within the scope of the Maritime Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and Africa Project (MarEA). MarEA aims to comprehensively document and assess vulnerable maritime archaeology (underwater, nearshore, coastal) and produce baseline information that can enhance existing infrastructure on archaeological monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Canal of China has a rich intangible cultural heritage along its route. The intangible cultural heritage of folk songs is an important representative. The study of its distribution characteristics and influencing factors is of practical and social significance for promoting the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage in relevant areas and the construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt. This paper uses the theories of musicology, geography, sociology, data statistical analysis and spatial analysis to analyze the distribution pattern of intangible cultural heritage items in the Grand Canal basin from the dimensions of geographical space and folk song genre, and from the perspective of natural and social conditions. The results show that the spatial distribution of folk songs in the Grand Canal basin shows a trend of "distribution along the river, two cores and two belts". Water system, landform and regional culture are the main influencing factors for the formation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage of folk songs. At the same time, compared with the mountainous areas in western China, the economic and social development and frequent population flow in the Grand Canal basin lead to the diversified and unified musical culture characteristics of folk songs. Finally, this paper proposes the suggestions that the folk songs should be integrated into the local social and economic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely, comprehensive, and continuous protection, as well as the use and presentation of authentic tangible and intangible cultural-historical heritage of a certain area can greatly contribute to the economic, ecological and social development of the community and the strengthening of the competitive position. Digitization should relax all previously known forms of cultural expression and enable access to the broadest audience and their participation in cultural life. This paper has the ambition to contribute to a more comprehensive appreciation of the digitization process, facilitate access to digital content and motivate new thinking about the continuous improvement of the availability of movable and immovable cultural assets, as well as intangible cultural heritage. A primary questionnaire was created in order to assess the views and opinions of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia on the importance of the digitization process for the promotion of cultural heritage. The research sample was an opportunistic, convenient sampling of residents of the Republic of Serbia from all 5 regions (n=138). The importance of the digitization process for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage has been established. Modern technologies are insufficiently represented in the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage, while this attitude is supported by a slightly higher percentage of respondents with the highest level of education. The importance of the digitization process for the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage has been proven, and respondents with the highest level of education attach the highest degree of importance to it. The greatest contribution can be seen in the preservation of the national identity and cultural diversity of the national communities, of our region, with social networks being the media that can contribute the most to the promotion of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last century, cultural heritage in Nigeria has experienced advanced neglect and continual degradation. This debacle created a trend whereby heritage resources have been wholly or partially replaced by new structures. The few heritage remnants in the locale will disappear if schemes to ameliorate, conserve and adaptive reuse are lacking. This research seeks a paradigm shift that balances the debacle and creates a sustainable physical development and cultural identity. This study is an empirical analysis of Old Oyo town in Nigeria and how it might be transformed into a living heritage rather than a deteriorating locale. This paper utilises the case study approach by presenting examples of the regeneration of the historic city in Fez, Morocco and the Kano ancient area in Nigeria. The findings show culture-led urban regeneration as a viable strategy for place making and sustainable development. It has the potential to drive the needed heritage development in Old Oyo while contributing to its environmental, economic and social sustainability. In addition, the project's archeo-tourism potential is essential for socio-cultural sustainability and the revival of indigenous urban solutions and practices. Recommendations for the Old Oyo are crucial to developing the other heritage sites in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Boundaries and Transgressions in the Anthropocene: Intangible Cultural Heritage as a Case Study" examines the significance of Intangible Cultural Heritage for education, learning, and socialization. In the Anthropocene, where humans play a crucial role in the fate of the planet, it is important to engage with nature and culture as a shared heritage of humanity. Intangible Cultural Heritage can make an important contribution to the development of global citizenship. The five areas of the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage are of great importance: oral traditions and expressions, music, body language, performing arts, customs, festivals, rituals throughout the year, humans and nature, craftsmanship. UNESCO is committed to preserving these works and practices and using them for intercultural dialogues and global partnerships to safeguard cultural diversity and develop global citizenship. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] Computed Tomography (CT) has proven itself as a powerful technique for analysing the internal structure of cultural heritage objects. The process followed by conservators and technical art historians for investigating an object is explorative: each time a new question is asked based on the outcome of the previous investigation. This workflow however conflicts with the static nature of CT imaging, where the planning, execution and image analysis for a single CT scan can take days, or even weeks. A new question often requires conducting a new experiment, repeating the process of planning, execution and image analysis. This means that the time that is needed to complete the investigation is often longer than originally anticipated. In addition, it brings up more practical challenges such as the transportation of the object, facility availability and dependence on the imaging operator, as well as the cost of running additional experiments. A much needed interactive imaging process, where the user can adapt the CT scanning process based on the insights discovered on the spot, is hard to accomplish. Therefore, in this paper we show how a time-efficient explorative workflow can be created for CT investigation of art objects, where the object can be inspected in 3D while still in the scanner, and based on the observations and the resulting new questions, the scanning procedure can be iteratively refined. We identify the technical requirements for a CT scanner that can address the diversity in cultural heritage objects (size, shape, material composition), and the need for adaptive steering of the scanning process required for an explorative workflow. Our approach has been developed through the interdisciplinary research projects The See-Through Museum and Impact4Art. We demonstrate the key concepts by showing results of art objects scanned at the FleX-ray Laboratory at CWI, Amsterdam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on a specific community of individuals who have mixed Southern Chinese and Filipino cultural heritage in the Philippines – the 'Lannangs'. I investigate the Lannang identity and, with ethnographic interviews and survey data, propose that the identity should be broadly defined as comprising of four dynamic parts: being Filipino, being Chinese, being neither, and being both. Focusing on the Manila community, I show how the Lannangs navigate between these orientations depending on the social context and the interlocutors. Moreover, drawing on the notions of indexicality and simultaneity, I investigate the role of language in the characterization of the Lannang identity. I also show that Hokkien, Lánnang-uè, Tagalog, English, among other languages, are being used to embody the aspects of 'Lannang-ness'. • The Lannang identity is not just a static 'Chinese' identity. • Being Chinese, being Filipino, being both, and being neither Chinese nor Filipino are crucial facets of the Lannang identity. • Certain Lannang languages are associated with the four facets of Lannang identity and have acquired indexical value. • The Lannangs use these languages to assert aspects of their Lannang identity, depending on the context and situation. • Embracing the complexities of the Lannang identity can help mitigate ethnic attrition in the Lannang community. • Acknowledging the role languages other than Sinitic ones play in the characterization of the Lannang identity can too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this paper, one of the products derived from the author's doctoral thesis, is to indicate how the current Brazilian Constitution innovates to define cultural heritage and establish measures for its preservation. With this purpose, the author makes a genealogy of the so-called "Cartas Políticas" of Brazil, which addressed heritage issues. Without examining the process that led to their formation in depth, this paper aims to demonstrate how the current Constitution extends the concept of heritage, albeit with some limitations, such as the naturalization of cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes possible formulas for the modification or Implementation of the principles and rights of cultural policies regulated in Spanish Constitution. As a starting point, it must be considered the entire previous experience developed in those Autonomies that reformed their "Estatutos", offering possible alternatives of concretion or improvement of the pre-existing regulation. Today these alternatives could be projected on the constitutional text itself, once the circumstances are given to facilitate Its effective reform. On the other hand, other possible improvements could come from the incorporation of principles already entrenched in the cultural policies of the EU, particularly appropriate for political models such as the Spanish case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite vibrant paradigmatic shifts in archaeological thought, Norwegian heritage legislation remains unchanged since the 1970s and is anchored in a traditional identity ideology assuming continuous links between contemporary populations and ancient societies. In the context of current and expected major demographic changes as a result of global migration, policy-makers and developers of alternative frameworks face the challenge of epistemic standstill and recycling of ideas. This article examines and seeks insights into causes for the current status, focusing on tensions between paradigms of value and between various levels of heritage management in and around Oslo, one of the fastest growing urban areas in Europe. Combining the discourse theoretical concept of nodal points with the method of qualitative coding analysis, we study responses by heritage management to perceived challenges of globalisation and demographic changes in all available official white papers produced after the year 2000. By reflecting on present narratives, our discussion relates to struggles over defining 'Norwegianness' and criticism of such notions. The identification of four levels of tension allows us to centre attention on key issues of importance to the societal aim of including and engaging an increasingly heterogeneous population, and to argue for a bottom-up and recursive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discuss how the pathway and trajectory of a quilombola community can compose the possibilities and the fortification of a quilombola geographical education by the territory. The educational actions derived from a sharing mapping, so the methodological basis of this work is the action research. The mapping presents the valorization of the racial/ethnic diversity present in the space for inclusion, establishment, learning and territorial recognition of Quilombola. Community of Alpes, at Porto Alegre, RS We also discusses the quilombola theme, especially in geographic education, to give visibility to afro-Brazilian cultural patrimony theme and its valorization in Geography teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The same application software and information systems used today on all continents, in spite of the fact that users of such systems from different national and organizational cultures. In this paper we argue that with respect and encouraging cultural diversity in the business environment can positively influence both the way of understanding, acceptance and use, and the information technology. Also it is shown the cultural heritage of a country's contemporary business culture and its impact on the development of information technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]