Pub Date : 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.001
Yuehan Pan , Miaole Hou , Su Yang , Huabiao Li , Songze Wei , Hongchao Fan
Aiming to support intraoperative and quantitative analysis on 3D Buddhist models, this paper presents a new mechanism of integrating semantic and attribute information within 3D geometries of Buddhist statues using the CityGML Application Domain Extension (ADE). For this purpose, a framework is designed for the process of ADE development which includes the definition of component Thesaurus, the establishment of semantic structure, the development of logic and physical models. By deploying this framework, the ADE is developed to model Buddhist statues in any type with semantic and attribute information, because with this ADE it is possible to decompose a statue into small meaningful component and record semantic and attribute information with the geometries. The ADE is tested by interactively selecting and visualizing one component of a Buddhist statue and validate that capability of modelling. 3D Buddhist statues modeled using this ADE can then support automatic analysis and calculations. Hence, this research work is one of the fundaments for the digitalization in the domain of culture heritage.
{"title":"A CityGML ADE for modeling Buddhist statues in 3D with semantic information","authors":"Yuehan Pan , Miaole Hou , Su Yang , Huabiao Li , Songze Wei , Hongchao Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aiming to support intraoperative and quantitative analysis on 3D Buddhist models, this paper presents a new mechanism of integrating semantic and attribute information within 3D geometries of Buddhist statues using the CityGML Application Domain Extension (ADE). For this purpose, a framework is designed for the process of ADE development which includes the definition of component Thesaurus, the establishment of semantic structure, the development of logic and physical models. By deploying this framework, the ADE is developed to model Buddhist statues in any type with semantic and attribute information, because with this ADE it is possible to decompose a statue into small meaningful component and record semantic and attribute information with the geometries. The ADE is tested by interactively selecting and visualizing one component of a Buddhist statue and validate that capability of modelling. 3D Buddhist statues modeled using this ADE can then support automatic analysis and calculations. Hence, this research work is one of the fundaments for the digitalization in the domain of culture heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 111-120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.010
Mila Crippa , Dominique Cardon , Diego Tamburini , Takumasa Kondo , Paula Nabais
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Lac Dye Colours: A Review of the Origin, History and Identification Techniques in Textiles” [Journal of Cultural Heritage 75 (2025) 307-325]","authors":"Mila Crippa , Dominique Cardon , Diego Tamburini , Takumasa Kondo , Paula Nabais","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Page 99"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.007
Pia Götz , David Melamed , Hendrik Bohling , Christine Brovkina , Istabraq Hussain , Nils Reims , Luca Junge , Dennis Hoffmann , Karolin Wiskandt , Ruth Schilling , Martin Hering-Bertram , Lucio Colombi Ciacchi
X-ray computed tomography (CT) has become a common method for conservators, historians and archaeologists to examine the interior of museum objects in a non-destructive way. This paper demonstrates an additional application of CT data sets. We namely show how the data can be processed and converted to interactive, computer-animated models embedded in web applications to bring back the historical objects to novel virtual life. This opens up a new way for museum visitors to interact with the virtual objects in both on-site and online exhibitions. The use of freely accessible software at all stages ensures that the involved costs remain accessible to public institutions. The approach is demonstrated using three technical instruments of historical significance spanning three centuries of maritime navigation: a pocket sundial, a maritime chronometer, and a pocket barometer manufactured in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Each object presents its own attributes and characteristics that require different approaches and solutions along the data process chains. The outcomes of these chains are interactive applications demonstrating the functionalities of the old instruments. This contributes to a better understanding of their modes of operation, and can focus the attention of the visitors to individual technical details, material composition and appearance, or other attributes of historical significance. The accessibility and appeal of the virtual objects results in a more immersive interaction experience facilitating a better transfer of knowledge to the visitors.
{"title":"Embedding of X-ray computed tomography data of cultural heritage objects in interactive web applications – old technical instruments brought back to novel virtual life","authors":"Pia Götz , David Melamed , Hendrik Bohling , Christine Brovkina , Istabraq Hussain , Nils Reims , Luca Junge , Dennis Hoffmann , Karolin Wiskandt , Ruth Schilling , Martin Hering-Bertram , Lucio Colombi Ciacchi","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>X-ray computed tomography (CT) has become a common method for conservators, historians and archaeologists to examine the interior of museum objects in a non-destructive way. This paper demonstrates an additional application of CT data sets. We namely show how the data can be processed and converted to interactive, computer-animated models embedded in web applications to bring back the historical objects to novel virtual life. This opens up a new way for museum visitors to interact with the virtual objects in both on-site and online exhibitions. The use of freely accessible software at all stages ensures that the involved costs remain accessible to public institutions. The approach is demonstrated using three technical instruments of historical significance spanning three centuries of maritime navigation: a pocket sundial, a maritime chronometer, and a pocket barometer manufactured in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Each object presents its own attributes and characteristics that require different approaches and solutions along the data process chains. The outcomes of these chains are interactive applications demonstrating the functionalities of the old instruments. This contributes to a better understanding of their modes of operation, and can focus the attention of the visitors to individual technical details, material composition and appearance, or other attributes of historical significance. The accessibility and appeal of the virtual objects results in a more immersive interaction experience facilitating a better transfer of knowledge to the visitors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 100-110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.005
Tiantian Liu , Xiangna Han , Yafang Yin , Guanglan Xi , Zhiguo Zhang , Jian Sun , Gang Chen , Lintong Zhang , Liuyang Han
To address the challenges of non-destructive evaluation and limited sample availability for waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW), this study developed a predictive model for physico-mechanical properties using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, we proposed a data augmentation framework based on the Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) to extend the NIR spectral data of WAW and associated physico-mechanical parameters - maximum water content (MWC), basic density (BD), modulus of rupture (MOR), and fracture strain (FS). Tree-based ensemble learning models (LGBM and Multi-Scale Derivative Enhanced Gradient Boosting Machine, MSDE-GBM) were built using the data generated by WGAN-GP, and the effect of extended dataset size on model performance was systematically investigated. The results showed significant correlations among the four physico-mechanical parameters of WAW, validating the feasibility of a multi-target generation mechanism to simultaneously synthesize spectral data corresponding to MWC, BD, MOR, and FS. Analysis of the generated data revealed that the WGAN-GP-generated spectral data exhibited significant noise during the initial training epochs; however, the morphology and smoothness of the synthetic spectra progressively approximated the real data with increasing training cycles, improving both diversity and authenticity. Further experiments identified optimal training epochs for different augmented dataset sizes: 4000 epochs for datasets expanded to 300 and 900 samples, and 6000 epochs for the 600-sample dataset. Subsequent modeling using data generated at these optimal epochs confirmed that WGAN-GP augmented datasets significantly improved the performance of LGBM and MSDE-GBM in predicting MWC and BD. Compared to the original dataset, the optimal models achieved RMSE reductions of 47.9 % (LGBM) and 59.9 % (MSDE-GBM) for MWC, 29.2 % (LGBM) and 13.3 % (MSDE-GBM) for BD. In contrast, the lower prediction accuracy for MOR and FS (R²< 0.7) highlighted the complex mapping relationships between micro-scale mechanical parameters (tested via thermomechanical analysis, TMA) and NIR spectral data. This study pioneers the simultaneous prediction of multiple WAW performance parameters, providing a novel paradigm for small sample regression modeling in heritage conservation. The generated data were successfully applied to assess the degradation of wooden components from the Southern Song Dynasty “Nanhai I” shipwreck and the Qing Dynasty “Zhiyuan” shipwreck, providing critical data-driven support for scientific conservation strategies of waterlogged archaeological artifacts.
{"title":"Multi-property prediction of waterlogged archaeological wood based on Wasserstein GAN-augmented tree models","authors":"Tiantian Liu , Xiangna Han , Yafang Yin , Guanglan Xi , Zhiguo Zhang , Jian Sun , Gang Chen , Lintong Zhang , Liuyang Han","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the challenges of non-destructive evaluation and limited sample availability for waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW), this study developed a predictive model for physico-mechanical properties using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, we proposed a data augmentation framework based on the Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) to extend the NIR spectral data of WAW and associated physico-mechanical parameters - maximum water content (MWC), basic density (BD), modulus of rupture (MOR), and fracture strain (FS). Tree-based ensemble learning models (LGBM and Multi-Scale Derivative Enhanced Gradient Boosting Machine, MSDE-GBM) were built using the data generated by WGAN-GP, and the effect of extended dataset size on model performance was systematically investigated. The results showed significant correlations among the four physico-mechanical parameters of WAW, validating the feasibility of a multi-target generation mechanism to simultaneously synthesize spectral data corresponding to MWC, BD, MOR, and FS. Analysis of the generated data revealed that the WGAN-GP-generated spectral data exhibited significant noise during the initial training epochs; however, the morphology and smoothness of the synthetic spectra progressively approximated the real data with increasing training cycles, improving both diversity and authenticity. Further experiments identified optimal training epochs for different augmented dataset sizes: 4000 epochs for datasets expanded to 300 and 900 samples, and 6000 epochs for the 600-sample dataset. Subsequent modeling using data generated at these optimal epochs confirmed that WGAN-GP augmented datasets significantly improved the performance of LGBM and MSDE-GBM in predicting MWC and BD. Compared to the original dataset, the optimal models achieved RMSE reductions of 47.9 % (LGBM) and 59.9 % (MSDE-GBM) for MWC, 29.2 % (LGBM) and 13.3 % (MSDE-GBM) for BD. In contrast, the lower prediction accuracy for MOR and FS (R²< 0.7) highlighted the complex mapping relationships between micro-scale mechanical parameters (tested via thermomechanical analysis, TMA) and NIR spectral data. This study pioneers the simultaneous prediction of multiple WAW performance parameters, providing a novel paradigm for small sample regression modeling in heritage conservation. The generated data were successfully applied to assess the degradation of wooden components from the Southern Song Dynasty “Nanhai I” shipwreck and the Qing Dynasty “Zhiyuan” shipwreck, providing critical data-driven support for scientific conservation strategies of waterlogged archaeological artifacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 86-98"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The aim of this work is to present an advancement in the technical protocol to obtain multiband 3D reconstructions of ancient statuary by photogrammetric acquisition of different input data as Visible (VIS), Ultraviolet Induced Visible Luminescence (UVL), and Visible Induced Luminescence (VIL). An acquisition workflow tailored for multiband photogrammetry was developed and tested on the Venus in a Bikini (INV 152798), belonging to MANN collection. The Bikini statue preserves rich remnants of the original polychromy, and in particular gilding on the strophyon (a sort of swimming suit) and on the sandals and pink traces on the tree trunk support and the draped cloak. The workflow, in comparison to others, is designed to generate multiband 3D reconstructions while remaining flexible and applicable in diverse operational scenarios.
The final multispectral 3D model, integrated into a Web3D framework (ATON), allows for interactive visualization, facilitating both scientific research and digital dissemination. It allows to simultaneously explore morphological characteristics on the entire sculpture at high resolution, combining detailed information on those properties not visible to the naked eye, but revealed by the multiband acquisitions. The extrapolated observations relate mainly to the presence on the surface of conservative intervention, or peculiar pigments and pattern decoration that can be highlighted.
{"title":"Multiband photogrammetry for multispectral 3D reconstruction of statuary","authors":"Daniele Ferdani , Cristiana Barandoni , Federica Bonifazi , Roberta Iannaccone , Donata Magrini","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this work is to present an advancement in the technical protocol to obtain multiband 3D reconstructions of ancient statuary by photogrammetric acquisition of different input data as Visible (VIS), Ultraviolet Induced Visible Luminescence (UVL), and Visible Induced Luminescence (VIL). An acquisition workflow tailored for multiband photogrammetry was developed and tested on the Venus in a Bikini (INV 152798), belonging to MANN collection. The <em>Bikini</em> statue preserves rich remnants of the original polychromy, and in particular gilding on the <em>strophyon</em> (a sort of swimming suit) and on the sandals and pink traces on the tree trunk support and the draped cloak. The workflow, in comparison to others, is designed to generate multiband 3D reconstructions while remaining flexible and applicable in diverse operational scenarios.</div><div>The final multispectral 3D model, integrated into a Web3D framework (ATON), allows for interactive visualization, facilitating both scientific research and digital dissemination. It allows to simultaneously explore morphological characteristics on the entire sculpture at high resolution, combining detailed information on those properties not visible to the naked eye, but revealed by the multiband acquisitions. The extrapolated observations relate mainly to the presence on the surface of conservative intervention, or peculiar pigments and pattern decoration that can be highlighted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 74-85"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.004
Zheng Zhou , Puheng Nan , Zhimin Li , Zhihua Gan , Qinglin Ma , Changjiao Xu , Jialiang Luo , Benyuan Zhou
The Tang Dynasty iron oxen (8th-century CE) at Pujindu Site, Shanxi, exhibit severe oxidative degradation from environmental weathering, with corrosion exfoliation compromising their aesthetic and structural integrity as archaeometallurgical artifacts. This study employed confocal Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and EDS to analyze three corrosion samples from the iron oxen group. The objectives were to characterize the compositional profiles of corrosion products and elucidate the corrosion-mineralization interplay. The results demonstrate that low-mineralization corrosion samples predominantly contain α-FeOOH (goethite), β-FeOOH (akaganéite), γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite), and uncorroded ternary phosphide eutectic structures, with significant graphite aggregates observed within the rust layers. The distribution of β-FeOOH exhibits a certain correlation with that of chlorine (Cl), as expected given its chloride-incorporating nature. High-mineralization corrosion samples are dominated by α-FeOOH and Fe₂O₃ (hematite), where the Fe₂O₃ content decreases with increasing corrosion depth. The phosphorus eutectic structures (steadite) suggests that under alkaline conditions, steadite could form a passivation film, thereby halting further corrosion progression. The non-ferrous minerals are primarily composed of silica (SiO₂), albite (NaAlSi₃O₈), and calcite (CaCO₃), with silica predominantly distributed within highly mineralized porous rust layers and macroscopic fissures. Their formation mechanisms potentially reflect early-stage geochemical processes—specifically albitization, silicification, and calcification—during geological sedimentation. This study links casting defects in Pujindu Site iron oxen to corrosion product distribution, aiding corrosion assessment and conservation optimization.
{"title":"Corrosion components and mechanisms of the iron oxen of tang dynasty at Pujindu Site, Shanxi Province, China","authors":"Zheng Zhou , Puheng Nan , Zhimin Li , Zhihua Gan , Qinglin Ma , Changjiao Xu , Jialiang Luo , Benyuan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tang Dynasty iron oxen (8th-century CE) at Pujindu Site, Shanxi, exhibit severe oxidative degradation from environmental weathering, with corrosion exfoliation compromising their aesthetic and structural integrity as archaeometallurgical artifacts. This study employed confocal Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and EDS to analyze three corrosion samples from the iron oxen group. The objectives were to characterize the compositional profiles of corrosion products and elucidate the corrosion-mineralization interplay. The results demonstrate that low-mineralization corrosion samples predominantly contain α-FeOOH (goethite), β-FeOOH (akaganéite), γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite), and uncorroded ternary phosphide eutectic structures, with significant graphite aggregates observed within the rust layers. The distribution of β-FeOOH exhibits a certain correlation with that of chlorine (Cl), as expected given its chloride-incorporating nature. High-mineralization corrosion samples are dominated by α-FeOOH and Fe₂O₃ (hematite), where the Fe₂O₃ content decreases with increasing corrosion depth. The phosphorus eutectic structures (steadite) suggests that under alkaline conditions, steadite could form a passivation film, thereby halting further corrosion progression. The non-ferrous minerals are primarily composed of silica (SiO₂), albite (NaAlSi₃O₈), and calcite (CaCO₃), with silica predominantly distributed within highly mineralized porous rust layers and macroscopic fissures. Their formation mechanisms potentially reflect early-stage geochemical processes—specifically albitization, silicification, and calcification—during geological sedimentation. This study links casting defects in Pujindu Site iron oxen to corrosion product distribution, aiding corrosion assessment and conservation optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 65-73"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-16DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.007
Jelena Šćekić, Dezire Tilinger, Aleksandra Milovanović
This paper systematically addresses the inconsistencies in interpreting the notion of value within the field of cultural heritage preservation, as observed in foundational sources published by renowned international organisations. The research aims (1) to clarify how the notion of value is defined and to map the recognised value typologies and those for which the definition exists, as well as (2) to identify the main approaches to cultural heritage preservation and their relationship to the notion of value. A comprehensive content analysis was conducted on a curated sample of 34 seminal documents sourced from UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, the Council of Europe, and the Architects’ Council of Europe, all of which explicitly define “value” in the context of cultural heritage. The results systematically highlight the complexity of the notion of value – its meaning and scope, as well as the representation of the previously identified main approaches to cultural heritage preservation within the analysed seminal documents. The results reveal substantial variation and evolution in the definition and understanding of the notion of value, with over 151 distinct value typologies identified; however, only a handful—cultural, historical, social, and aesthetic values—predominate across the analysed sources. Furthermore, the study identifies four main approaches to cultural heritage preservation: material-based, value-based, living heritage, and historic urban landscape. The findings demonstrate that the evolution of these approaches corresponds directly to changes in how values are conceptualised and operationalised, particularly regarding the balance between tangible and intangible values and the expanding role of different stakeholder groups. The study highlights a persistent lack of consensus regarding the definition of the notion of value and classification of values in cultural heritage preservation discourse. This multiplicity raises critical questions about the coherence, inclusivity, and cultural adaptability of current valuation practices. Rather than proposing a unified model, the paper offers a critical reflection on the institutional and epistemological frameworks – foundational sources published by renowned international organisations that still serve as a global guideline for identifying and preserving values of cultural heritage in practice. Moreover, the identification and examination of the ideas and principles of the four main approaches to cultural heritage preservation serve as a starting point for further, more context-based analysis of the notion of value. These insights aim to inform future discussions on redefining the notion of value – its meaning and scope in cultural heritage policy documents - moving beyond rigid typologies toward more dynamic, contextually sensitive, and inclusive approaches.
{"title":"The notion of value in cultural heritage preservation: A systematic review of foundational sources published by renowned international organisations","authors":"Jelena Šćekić, Dezire Tilinger, Aleksandra Milovanović","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper systematically addresses the inconsistencies in interpreting the notion of value within the field of cultural heritage preservation, as observed in foundational sources published by renowned international organisations. The research aims (1) to clarify how the notion of value is defined and to map the recognised value typologies and those for which the definition exists, as well as (2) to identify the main approaches to cultural heritage preservation and their relationship to the notion of value. A comprehensive content analysis was conducted on a curated sample of 34 seminal documents sourced from UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, the Council of Europe, and the Architects’ Council of Europe, all of which explicitly define “value” in the context of cultural heritage. The results systematically highlight the complexity of the notion of value – its meaning and scope, as well as the representation of the previously identified main approaches to cultural heritage preservation within the analysed seminal documents. The results reveal substantial variation and evolution in the definition and understanding of the notion of value, with over 151 distinct value typologies identified; however, only a handful—cultural, historical, social, and aesthetic values—predominate across the analysed sources. Furthermore, the study identifies four main approaches to cultural heritage preservation: material-based, value-based, living heritage, and historic urban landscape. The findings demonstrate that the evolution of these approaches corresponds directly to changes in how values are conceptualised and operationalised, particularly regarding the balance between tangible and intangible values and the expanding role of different stakeholder groups. The study highlights a persistent lack of consensus regarding the definition of the notion of value and classification of values in cultural heritage preservation discourse. This multiplicity raises critical questions about the coherence, inclusivity, and cultural adaptability of current valuation practices. Rather than proposing a unified model, the paper offers a critical reflection on the institutional and epistemological frameworks – foundational sources published by renowned international organisations that still serve as a global guideline for identifying and preserving values of cultural heritage in practice. Moreover, the identification and examination of the ideas and principles of the four main approaches to cultural heritage preservation serve as a starting point for further, more context-based analysis of the notion of value. These insights aim to inform future discussions on redefining the notion of value – its meaning and scope in cultural heritage policy documents - moving beyond rigid typologies toward more dynamic, contextually sensitive, and inclusive approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 52-64"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.002
Junkai Ge , Huaifeng Sun , Xiaodong Li , Xushan Lu , Xuening Wang , Li Li , Kejia Hu
The Northern Wei dynasty stone Buddha was built in 517 AD and is currently housed in Qingdao Museum, located in Laoshan District, Qingdao, China (36°6′5.58″N, 120°28′23.42″E). Over the centuries, the natural weathering process and the damage caused by various relocations has led to internal cracks on its Sumeru throne that threatens the stability of the Buddha. Previous restoration attempts are visible on the surface of the throne. To guarantee the quality and effectiveness of further restoration measures, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the cracks developments and all invisible past restoration efforts that might interfere future restoration. An ultra-wideband stepped-frequency continuous wave (SFCW) ground penetrating radar (GPR) system was employed to perform a non-invasive investigation of the Buddha Sumeru throne. We used a systematic imaging method to tackle the challenges of detecting tiny internal features within the throne. Leveraging scattering-based velocity estimation, advanced GPR signal enhancement, Stolt migration, and envelope attribute extraction, this approach unveils a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) image, offering unprecedented insights into subsurface structures. The obtained images revealed the internal cracks, details of past restoration effort, offering valuable insights for guiding future restoration efforts. Finally, we discussed the advantages of GPR for investigating stone statues.
{"title":"Decoding the stone Buddha: Three-dimensional ground penetrating radar attribute insights into cracks and restoration history of Sumeru throne","authors":"Junkai Ge , Huaifeng Sun , Xiaodong Li , Xushan Lu , Xuening Wang , Li Li , Kejia Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Northern Wei dynasty stone Buddha was built in 517 AD and is currently housed in Qingdao Museum, located in Laoshan District, Qingdao, China (36°6′5.58″N, 120°28′23.42″E). Over the centuries, the natural weathering process and the damage caused by various relocations has led to internal cracks on its Sumeru throne that threatens the stability of the Buddha. Previous restoration attempts are visible on the surface of the throne. To guarantee the quality and effectiveness of further restoration measures, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the cracks developments and all invisible past restoration efforts that might interfere future restoration. An ultra-wideband stepped-frequency continuous wave (SFCW) ground penetrating radar (GPR) system was employed to perform a non-invasive investigation of the Buddha Sumeru throne. We used a systematic imaging method to tackle the challenges of detecting tiny internal features within the throne. Leveraging scattering-based velocity estimation, advanced GPR signal enhancement, Stolt migration, and envelope attribute extraction, this approach unveils a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) image, offering unprecedented insights into subsurface structures. The obtained images revealed the internal cracks, details of past restoration effort, offering valuable insights for guiding future restoration efforts. Finally, we discussed the advantages of GPR for investigating stone statues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 39-51"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145061174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.005
Anzhelika Mezina, Vojtech Schiller, Radim Burget
Forgery detection in paintings presents a significant challenge with substantial implications for the art world and forensic sciences. Given the high variability of artistic techniques and materials, forensic analysis must provide compelling, reproducible, and scientifically robust evidence. This paper introduces a novel technique for identifying anomalous regions in paintings, based on the detection of differences between visible and X-ray spectra, while also suppressing irrelevant artifacts, such as painting frames. Our model, the so-called ForgAnoNet, employs an architecture similar to O-Net but with several enhancements tailored to meet these specific needs. This architecture is the first to be applied to the fields of forensics and cultural heritage research. A methodology that is repeatable, accurate, and can suppress false detection from irrelevant irregularities. We proposed a novel neural network model that enhances both the precision and speed of detecting irregularities, such as cracks, voids, and previous restoration efforts. To evaluate the performance, we compared the methodology with five state-of-the-art models on the created datasets, which contained 4888 samples. A comprehensive evaluation of diverse X-ray images from various artworks demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach in practical applications. The newly developed ForgAnoNet achieves an accuracy of 98.08 %, significantly outperforming all other models in the study. Additionally, ForgAnoNet demonstrates precision, achieving a value of 0.4403, which effectively reduces false-positive rates and improves the reliability of anomaly detection in paintings.
{"title":"ForgAnoNet: A Neural Network for Anomaly Detection in Artworks Using X-ray and Visible Spectrum Imaging","authors":"Anzhelika Mezina, Vojtech Schiller, Radim Burget","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forgery detection in paintings presents a significant challenge with substantial implications for the art world and forensic sciences. Given the high variability of artistic techniques and materials, forensic analysis must provide compelling, reproducible, and scientifically robust evidence. This paper introduces a novel technique for identifying anomalous regions in paintings, based on the detection of differences between visible and X-ray spectra, while also suppressing irrelevant artifacts, such as painting frames. Our model, the so-called ForgAnoNet, employs an architecture similar to O-Net but with several enhancements tailored to meet these specific needs. This architecture is the first to be applied to the fields of forensics and cultural heritage research. A methodology that is repeatable, accurate, and can suppress false detection from irrelevant irregularities. We proposed a novel neural network model that enhances both the precision and speed of detecting irregularities, such as cracks, voids, and previous restoration efforts. To evaluate the performance, we compared the methodology with five state-of-the-art models on the created datasets, which contained 4888 samples. A comprehensive evaluation of diverse X-ray images from various artworks demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach in practical applications. The newly developed ForgAnoNet achieves an accuracy of 98.08 %, significantly outperforming all other models in the study. Additionally, ForgAnoNet demonstrates precision, achieving a value of 0.4403, which effectively reduces false-positive rates and improves the reliability of anomaly detection in paintings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 29-38"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.006
M. Heckert-Schuleri , A. Baragona , S. Enghardt , J. Weber
A wide variety of tools are available and are commonly used in the analysis of historical mortars and plasters, including but not limited to, acid digestion, thin section microscopy eventually combined with other imaging analytical methods, and the creation of historically accurate experimental mortars. The first two approaches produce reliable archaeometric data, but rely on invasive sampling and/or destruction of the sample. The latter method can be very informative about ancient techniques, but requires knowledge of the original mortar parameters. Typical X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) can be used to diagnose the condition of a plaster (e.g., locate cracks) but does a poor job of differentiating between the various compounds that make up a historical building material. This work describes a method by which Multi-Energy Computed Tomography (ME-CT) is used to provide archaeometric data on the mixing design comparable to the invasive and destructive methods.
{"title":"Multi-Energy CT - Nondestructive investigation of historic mortars","authors":"M. Heckert-Schuleri , A. Baragona , S. Enghardt , J. Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.culher.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A wide variety of tools are available and are commonly used in the analysis of historical mortars and plasters, including but not limited to, acid digestion, thin section microscopy eventually combined with other imaging analytical methods, and the creation of historically accurate experimental mortars. The first two approaches produce reliable archaeometric data, but rely on invasive sampling and/or destruction of the sample. The latter method can be very informative about ancient techniques, but requires knowledge of the original mortar parameters. Typical X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) can be used to diagnose the condition of a plaster (e.g., locate cracks) but does a poor job of differentiating between the various compounds that make up a historical building material. This work describes a method by which Multi-Energy Computed Tomography (ME-CT) is used to provide archaeometric data on the mixing design comparable to the invasive and destructive methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15480,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cultural Heritage","volume":"76 ","pages":"Pages 21-28"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}