AbstractThis study centers on the symbiotic integration of art and chemistry in the conservation of bronze artifacts. Focusing on chemical analysis, cleaning, corrosion protection, and sealing, it aims to balance scientific stability with historical authe
AbstractAccurate identification of pigments is vital for preserving Tibetan Thangka paintings, where mineral colors often occur in undocumented mixtures and layered structures. We introduce an automatic hyperspectral framework that unifies pigment classif
AbstractArchive storage boxes are preventive tools used by museums and archives to mitigate the impact of adverse external factors. In this study, quaternized chitosan and polyacrylamide double-network gel were used to load sodium octaborate tetrahydrate,
AbstractSalt weathering poses a major threat to porous sandstone in cultural heritage. Iron-tartrate complexes have been proposed to modify NaCl crystallization behavior and prevent clumping. However, their efficacy in stone conservation has remained unve
AbstractHan-Tang Western Region beacon towers hold significant historical value but suffer severe damage, with traditional restoration lacking visual references. This paper proposes a GAN-based image restoration method combining Pix2Pix and CycleGAN model
AbstractTo promote the digital preservation and dissemination of Tibetan Opera, a unique form of intangible cultural heritage, this study addresses key challenges such as limited sample availability, intricate costume patterns, variable object scales, and
Marine Appart, Jiří Vnouček, Marc Fourneau, Nicolas Gros, Francesca Cecchet, Yves Poumay, Caroline Canon, Matthew James Collins Olivier Deparisnpj Heritage Science volume 13, Article number: 665 (2025)AbstractThe ability of sheepskin to delaminate has be
AbstractAncient manuscripts require digitization to combat deterioration and enable preservation. This study addresses challenges in multilingual document processing, including noise, texture variations, and ink fading, by proposing GLADUnet – a Global-Lo
AbstractAncient murals, as invaluable cultural heritage, are prone to degradation from natural erosion and human activities. Traditional manual restoration methods have inherent limitations, which in turn make virtual restoration a promising and innovativ
AbstractBuddhist sculptures face preservation challenges due to physical degradation and limited accessibility. We present a framework for high-fidelity 3D reconstruction from single 2D images, integrating modified Stable Diffusion architecture with a nov
AbstractTraditional Chinese gardens embody sophisticated spatial design principles often described through abstract terms like “scenic archetypes,” yet systematic methods for analyzing their visual spatial characteristics remain underdeveloped. This study
AbstractGenerating traditional Chinese landscape paintings from classical poetry is a challenging cross-modal task due to the condensed semantics and esthetic abstraction of poetic language. Existing text-to-image models struggle to interpret classical Ch
npj Heritage Science volume 13, Article number: 674 (2025)Teodora Boyadzhieva, Michael Højlund Rasmussen, Bjarke Jensen, Arne Jouttijärvi, Arkadiusz Goszczak, Jacek Fiutowski, Caroline E. Larsen Lasse Kristian Taagelund HedegaardAbstractA renovation of t
AbstractIdentification of archaeological wood species is critical for decoding the biogeographical, historical, and cultural narratives of artifacts, but remains a challenge in practice. To address this challenge, we developed a deep learning framework in
AbstractOracle bone script, China’s earliest known mature writing system, epitomizes ancient Chinese civilization’s origins. However, many characters are severely damaged by temporal degradation and natural erosion, complicating their interpretation. Thus
AbstractIntangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) has always been a major component of cultural identity and its safeguarding through digital technologies has also been developing. The current research merges the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) witeth Media Ri
AbstractThangka murals are vital Tibetan cultural heritage. However, existing digital images face insufficient clarity, often limited to resolutions below 1024 × 1024 pixels, which hinders cultural preservation and analysis. Despite their potential, Trans
AbstractUnderstanding ecosystem service driving mechanisms (ESDM) is essential to ensure the sustainable utilization of ecosystem services (ES). However, a systematic assessment of ESDM is still lacking. To address this gap, this study used a systematic l
Jakub Markiewicz, Patryk Kot, Andreas Georgopoulos, Agnieszka Bocheńska, Magomed Muradov, Mona Hess, Karol Czajkowski, Dorota Zawieska Angeliki Antoniounpj Heritage Science volume 13, Article number: 622 (2025)AbstractThe safeguarding and preservation of
AbstractAncient Chinese wooden structures exhibit remarkable organic characteristics, reflected in their highly integrated construction and exceptional seismic performance. To explore the seismic-resistant wisdom inherent in ancient wooden structures, thi
AbstractArchaeological Predictive Model is crucial for efficient site identification but faces challenges like high uncertainty in negative samples, limited accuracy, and simplistic analyses of site-environment interactions. This study, based on 189 Kusha
AbstractAgricultural heritage landscapes are complex socio-ecological systems increasingly challenged by human pressures and climate change, yet the mechanisms underlying their ecosystem resilience remain unclear. This study combines time-series remote se
AbstractDigital preservation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) often faces challenges of fragmented knowledge and misalignment with users’ cognitive needs. Targeting the Traditional Production Skills of Xuan Paper, this study proposes a user-demand-dr
AbstractThis review assesses the application of cellulose derivatives, specifically cellulose ethers and nanocelluloses, in cultural heritage conservation. By analysing literature and case studies, it highlights how their unique properties enable eco-frie
AbstractHistoric urban buildings embody cultural memory but often struggle to meet contemporary energy performance standards. This study develops an Urban Building Energy Modelling (UBEM) framework that integrates heritage conservation constraints into ne
AbstractIn the context of global urban renewal, historic urban areas (HUAs) face the challenge of balancing heritage preservation with sustainable development. Heritage tourism is a key pathway to achieve this balance. The emotional responses and behavior
AbstractPaper-based artifacts are particularly susceptible to pest infestations. To overcome the limitations associated with conventional treatments, this study introduces a nitrogen-based anoxia/hypoxia and pressure regulation (NPR) system as a safer alt
AbstractIn the context of heritage tourism development, accurately identifying the preferences of new-generation tourists is critically important. Based on dual-process theory, this paper combines questionnaire surveys with neuroscience (ERP) techniques t
AbstractWater seepage can accelerate the deterioration of stone, but previous experimental studies often only focused on a single solution, ignoring the complexity of the natural water environment. In this study, sandstone samples from two strata of Lesha
AbstractThe preservation of cultural artifacts is vital for maintaining historical continuity, particularly for traditional Chinese paintings that often suffer from decay and damage over time. Existing inpainting methods struggle to simultaneously recover
AbstractExisting studies have primarily focused on how the functional evolution of vessels responded to external demands, and many have overlooked the influence of regional institutional contexts and global trade networks. Drawing on computational text an
AbstractThis study fills the gap regarding the behaviour of neutral verdigris pigment (Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O) in traditional wall-painting techniques, an area far less studied than its degradation in manuscripts or easel paintings. Verdigris was applied using t
AbstractGlobal agricultural heritage systems (GIAHS), recognized for their biocultural significance, is facing a critical challenge of balancing preservation with development. Despite digital nomads’ potential to generate low-impact heritage revitalizatio
AbstractWe test whether orientation rules in the Eight Mansions (Ba Zhai) tradition align with microclimatic comfort in a hot–humid setting. Using CFD coupled with the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), we simulated 24 rotational orientations of a ty
AbstractFew-shot point cloud semantic segmentation (FS-PCSS) is crucial for architectural heritage digitization, as it segments unseen categories with minimal annotations. However, existing methods focus on target features while neglecting background mode
Qiang Zhang, Jiazhen Qin, Ying Qi, Teng Wan, Shanxiong Chen, Lixin Yang, Chenyang Wang, Xin Zhang, Jintan Han Fengchen Qinpj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 25 (2026)AbstractJiandu, ancient China’s primary writing medium before paper, frequen
AbstractFor conservation and restoration purposes, the multi-analytical methods including optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermally assisted hydrolysis-methylation pyrolysis-g
AbstractThis study presents an explainable machine learning approach for classifying traditional Korean ceramics, including celadon, buncheong, and white porcelain, based on X-ray fluorescence chemical composition data. A curated dataset of 624 samples wa
AbstractSeveral Shang and Zhou Dynasty oracle plastrons from the Taijiasi Site (Funan, Anhui, China) exhibit random flake- or patch-like surface black deposits unlikely induced by burning or pyromancy. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray
AbstractAssessing landscape ecological risk (LER) is vital for sustainability in ecologically fragile regions. However, LER in cultural heritage sites remains insufficiently explored. Using Guyi Basin as a case study, this study analyzes LER dynamics unde
AbstractMural degradation presents significant challenges to cultural heritage preservation. To address this, a hierarchical mural inpainting model, APLDiff, based on a lightweight diffusion model, is proposed. A physics-based degradation simulation is in
AbstractIn the context of global cultural integration, the preservation of cultural heritage is faced with dual challenges of inheritance and innovation. It is clear that this study takes Fujian Tulou as a case study and tries to propose a Cultural Visual
AbstractAdvances in AI, particularly deep learning, are transforming the protection and utilization of historical and cultural landscapes. This study proposes a comprehensive digital regeneration workflow for fragmented historical images that systematical
AbstractDigital humans are emerging as innovative media for interpreting the cultural heritage value of museums. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, this study examines how information richness, information quality, aesthetic experience, and flow ex
AbstractAncient mural restoration is a challenging conditional image-generation problem because of large missing regions, semantic ambiguity, and strict demands for cultural and stylistic fidelity. We present DiffuMural, a multi-stage, condition-guided di
AbstractPrehistoric sites are important materials for understanding prehistoric civilization. This study addresses the limitations of current archaeological databases, which often suffer from fragmented data structures, weak spatiotemporal integration and
AbstractThis study investigates the provenance of Tang-dynasty black-glazed porcelain excavated from the Yingou site in Fuping, Shaanxi, through comparative analysis with authenticated Tang-dynasty Yaozhou kiln samples. A multi-analytical approach combini
AbstractThis study presents an integrated archaeometric analysis of three key Roman mosaics (Tethys, Erotes, and Scrollworks) from the Marroquíes Altos site (Jaén, Spain), currently displayed at the Museum of Jaén. The aim was to enhance their historical
AbstractIn early Chinese civilization loess-based clay mold technology was instrumental to both the mass production of ritual bronzes and the development of metallurgical traditions. A comprehensive understanding of ancient Chinese bronze casting technolo
AbstractHeritage trees are vital natural-cultural heritage, contributing to regional biodiversity with significant social, cultural, and ecological values. Understanding their spatial patterns in relation to environmental and anthropogenic factors can inf
AbstractThis study analyzes 16 pieces of greenish-white porcelain unearthed from the Hongjiajie cemetery, the family burial site of Han Derang of the Liao Dynasty in Beizhen, Liaoning. Using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and laser ablation
AbstractSuspended ancient timber structures, characterized by complex construction and unique load-transfer mechanisms, are prone to pronounced dynamic responses under pedestrian walking loads. This study aims to systematically investigate the structural
Published: 24 January 2026npj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 57 (2026)AbstractDou-Gong is one of the key factors in achieving seismic resistance and energy dissipation for timber architectural heritages. This study carried out experimental an
Published: 26 January 2026npj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 58 (2026)AbstractThis paper presents the multi-analytical study of the pictorial ensemble in Room 3 of the Domus of Salvius in Carthago Nova with the aim of deepening knowledge of t
Published: 27 January 2026npj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 59 (2026)AbstractThis study develops a Cluster Protection and Utilization System (CPUS) through complex network analysis to enhance conservation strategies for traditional villages
Published: 28 January 2026npj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 61 (2026)AbstractDigital inpainting of traditional Chinese murals is challenged by the difficulty of disentangling intricate structures from unique artistic styles, often leading to
AbstractDigital restoration of ancient murals is crucial for preserving cultural heritage. However, existing methods often suffer from semantic distortion and stylistic inconsistencies when repairing large damaged areas. This paper proposes M3SFormer, an
AbstractThe Ming Great Wall in Beijing suffers from hidden voids, detachments, and moisture infiltration from long-term weathering and human impacts. Invasive diagnostics risk irreversible damage to this UNESCO site. This study developed a non-destructive
关于丝绸之路遗址的修复与展示研究相对较少；这些遗址是典型的土遗址，由风蚀沙地和零散的墙体部分组成，地面上几乎没有发现遗存。本研究以锁阳城遗址为例，运用无人机倾斜摄影、三维激光扫描、虚拟现实（VR）、增强现实（AR）和人工智能（AI）等数字技术，构建锁阳城遗址的三维数字模型。通过实地调研，本文分析了游客对遗址的感知价值，提取了修复设计元 ...
AbstractAlthough research on ground stone tools has increasingly embraced multidisciplinary approaches over the years, studies on polished stone axes and adzes still lack deeper and dynamic analysis. This paper presents a study of the function and reuse o
AbstractOnline cultural heritage presentations are transitioning from traditional media to immersive 3D displays, yet high-fidelity on-site 3D modeling faces copyright, security, and preservation constraints. This study proposes a deep learning-based 3D r
AbstractStandard 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) relies on multi-view images, creating a barrier for museum artifacts archived only as colored point clouds without corresponding registered images. We propose a 3DGS paradigm that operates directly on colored
Published: 29 January 2026npj Heritage Science volume 14, Article number: 66 (2026)AbstractThis study applies high-precision industrial metrology to the conservation of rammed-earth buildings (Tulou), establishing a structural health monitoring (SHM) fram
AbstractThis study explores the application of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) to the digital reconstruction of Qing-period interior canopy components, a representative form of traditional Chinese timberwork. To address fragmented archive
