I've got some "homework" for those interested in the Timeline aspect of the Connections (see also this new post).

1. WHS with a timeline attribution but without a rationale:
Paleozoic Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
Triassic Ischigualasto / Talampaya
Paleocene Paraty and Ilha Grande
Middle Pleistocene Volcanoes of Kamchatka
Built in the 4th millennium BC Brú na Bóinne
Built in the 4th millennium BC Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Built in the 3rd Millennium BC Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
Built in the 2nd Millennium BC Sammallahdenmäki
Built in the 1st century Ancient villages of Northern Syria

2. WHS without any timeline attribution (38):
Yakushima
Los Alerces National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Wixarika Route
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Northern Martinique
Landscapes of Dauria
Maratha Military Landscapes
Cold winter deserts of Turan
'Uruq Bani Ma'arid
Qinghai Hoh Xil
Odzala-Kokoua
Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
Central Suriname Nature Reserve
Niokolo-Koba National Park
Nyungwe National Park
Yen Tu
Tropical Rainforest Sumatra
Minoan Palatial Centres
Mount Hamiguitan
Manu National Park
Sangha Trinational
Bijagos Archipelago
Gola-Tiwai complex
Persian Caravanserai
Taï National Park
Central Sikhote-Alin
Comoé National Park
Manovo-Gounda St. Floris
Ancient Khuttal
Bale Mountains National Park
Western Caucasus
Great Himalayan National Park
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Serengeti
Ichkeul National Park
Badain Jaran Desert
Virgin Komi Forests

Solivagant put his little helpers to work with homework question 2, and they came back with this. It needs verification, but at first sight, the observations seem good.

Here is the classification for your list:

Natural Sites (Geological & Ecological Eras)
The majority of these sites are inscribed for ongoing biological evolution and Pleistocene/Holocene biodiversity.

Quaternary (Holocene/Pleistocene): Most of the African and South American rainforests/savannas fall here due to their role as modern biodiversity refugia.

Serengeti, Sangha Trinational, Manu, Odzala-Kokoua, Niokolo-Koba, Taï, Comoé, Manovo-Gounda St. Floris, Central Suriname, Nyungwe, Gola-Tiwai, Los Alerces.

Neogene/Quaternary Transition: Sites with significant tectonic or glacial shaping.

Yakushima: Notable for ancient Yakusugi cedars (some 2,000–7,000 years old) and its unique ecosystem transition.

Western Caucasus / Central Sikhote-Alin: Vital for relic Paleogene/Neogene flora.

Great Himalayan National Park: High-altitude evolution within the Himalayan orogeny.

Late Cenozoic (Arid Systems):

'Uruq Bani Ma'arid / Badain Jaran Desert / Cold Winter Deserts of Turan: Defined by active aeolian (wind) processes and dune formation in the late Quaternary.

Qinghai Hoh Xil: Significant for the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.

Mesozoic to Cenozoic (Ancient Foundations):

Mount Mulanje: An inselberg formed by magmatic intrusions roughly 130 million years ago.

Cultural Sites (Specific Eras/Centuries)
These are defined by the peak of the human activity described in their OUV.

2nd Millennium BCE (Minoan Era):

Minoan Palatial Centres: 1900 BCE – 1100 BCE (The Protopalatial and Neopalatial periods).

9th – 13th Centuries CE (Medieval Islamic):

Ancient Khuttal: The peak of the Samanid and local Khuttalan dynasties.

10th – 14th Centuries CE:

Yen Tu: Associated with the Tran Dynasty and the founding of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism.

16th – 19th Centuries CE:

Persian Caravanserai: While some are older, the core of the network reflects the Safavid era (17th c.) through the Qajar era.

Maratha Military Landscapes: 17th – 19th centuries, specifically the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the subsequent Peshwas.

Mixed / Cultural Landscapes (Dual Periods)
These sites require both a geological and a human-historical designation.

Wixarika Route (The Pilgrimage to Wirikuta):

Natural: Holocene (Chihuahuan Desert ecology).

Cultural: Immisurable/Ancestral (Pre-Hispanic to present). Its OUV is tied to a living tradition that spans millennia.

Bijagos Archipelago:

Natural: Holocene (Coastal/Marine evolution).

Cultural: 15th Century – Present (Resilience of the Bijogo people against colonization).

Unique Exceptions
Northern Martinique (Volcanology): Its OUV is tied to the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée, making it one of the rare sites where a specific 20th-century event defines the geological significance (the birth of "Pelean" volcanology).

Starting with checking some easier ones:

More exactly pinned to 13th century in OUV: "Truc Lam Buddhism at its core – founded in the 13th century by Tran Kings". And "It was the territory of the Tran Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries and the birthplace of Truc Lam (Bamboo Forest) Buddhism, a Zen sect unique to Viet Nam." (AB ev). Most of the present buildings are much younger reconstructions, but it is the Truc Lam tradition that counts here so I'd go for Built in the 13rd century


AB ev says: "These archaeological sites exemplify a remarkable prehistoric culture that flourished between 2800 BCE and 1100 BCE." Knossos and Phaistos are the oldest within the set of 6, and they date from 1900 BCE, so Built in the 2nd millennium BCE


OUV: "The Maratha military ideology reached its zenith during the reign of the Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, by 1670 CE, and continued through subsequent reigns until the Maratha rule ended in 1818 CE." All forts also have their origins in the 1600s. So Built in the 17th century


OUV: "an exceptional testimony to the disappeared cultural tradition of Ancient Khuttal that existed on the piedmonts of the Pamir from the 7th to the 16th centuries." Ajinatepa Buddhist monastery is the oldest component and said to date back to the earliest stage (7th - 8th centuries). Hulbuk dates to the 10th century. Unsure, but would be leaning to the earlier date (7th century)

The two world wars divided the 20th century into three distinct periods: pre-war (the first), interwar, and post-war (the second). Perhaps we could therefore divide this connection further?

It's done.

Just a small question: may I ask why this connection wasn't included? It could be that it doesn't apply, as I've never visited the site.

Apologies for picking up only the lowest-hanging of fruit:

Built in the 4th millennium BC: Brú na Bóinne - "Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth which were built circa 3200BC." [https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre-newgrange-knowth-and-dowth/]

Built in the 4th millennium BC: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump - "Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is the most outstanding of the surviving bison jumps in the Americas in use from approximately 5,800 years BP until AD 1850" [OUV statement]

Built in the 3rd Millennium BC: Hal Saflieni Hypogeum - "This unique monument dates back to early antiquity (about 2,500 B.C.)" [ICOMOS evaluation]

no, no problem, I think I forgot to save it

At least you left them in the same era!

This is not correct of course, as it is not a natural WHS but a cultural landscape.
OUV statement says "an organically evolving landscape illustrating how the collective attitudes and beliefs of a rural society have interacted with nature for over 100 years". The 3 etnic groups in question arrived in the area in the 14th/15th, 18th and late 19th centuries. So what should be considered the start of the "spiritual association with the mountain"? 14th century?

MoPython came up with something similar, suggesting cutting both the 19th and 20th centuries. I think it fits the overall idea of zooming in when we come closer to our current date & of course, we know more exact years nowadays, although it isn't really necessary numbers-wise (the 16th century is the big one...).

So first, we need to do a quick check whether indeed we know enough years to make a cut.
For the 20th century, only FRIM and the Mandela sites don't have exact years in the current listings, but we can easily change that. They are known. Osun Osogbo may need some research.
The 19th century needs some more work in adding years to the rationales, but still it seems doable to me.

Furthermore, we can discuss what the years should be.
For the 19th century, I'd suggest 1851 (so 1801-1850 and 1851-1900)
For the 20th century, I'd suggest 1946 as the change.
But open to other views.

FRIM I have altered into: "a mature humanmade tropical rainforest which was planted from the 1920s onwards on heavily tin-mining degraded land" (AB ev)

Mandela sites: although most well-known events described in the AB ev are 1955 or later, the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church is considered a foundation site of the modern liberation struggle: "The first major gathering of African leaders from across the country met here in Bloemfontein in 1909, an early milestone; and again in 1912 for a conference that led to the formation of the ANC. "
The components also include the University of Fort Hare, which Nelson Mandela attended from 1938, along with other leaders of the liberation struggle. Mandela joined the ANC in 1943. So overall, I'd put it in the pre-WWII group since we are looking at when the OUV originated

For Osun Osogbo, it is the proposal to move it to Built in the 17th century (!!). The OUV statement speaks about a period of 400 years during which the sacred grove of the Yoruba has existed. The "large component of 20th century sculpture" (added by Suzanne Wenger, 1950s) also present on the site could additionally be covered by Contains significant structures from the 20th century- connection.

Some more new connections for Lalibela. We started out at 20.

Connection: Hypogea

Lalibela – Biet Denagel (the Church of the Martyred Virgins) is the only example of hypogea among the buildings included in the Lalibela WHS. (AB Ev)

Connection: Hypostyle

Lalibela – Biete Qeddus Mercoreus was designed as a hypostyle hall. (Wikipedia)

Connection: Irrigation and drainage

Lalibela – "This gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches (...)." (OUV) – "Commends the State Party on its effort to undertake a series of restoration interventions at the property (...), including the specifications for a planned extended hydrological study to investigate the historic hydraulic system within and around the property (...)." (Decision 47 COM 7B.155) – "The churches are also a significant engineering feat, given that they are all associated with water (which fills the wells next to many of the churches), exploiting an artesian geological system that brings the water up to the top of the mountain ridge on which the city rests." (Wikipedia)

Connection: Legends and Folk Myths

Lalibela – According to Ethiopian cultural history, the Church of Saint George was built after King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela is said to have had a divine vision commanding him to build the churches. According to legend, the construction was quickly completed, with Saint George himself, leading squads of angels, participating in the work. (Wikipedia)

To be continued...

More new connections for Lalibela.

Connection: Made out of basaltic material

Lalibela – "Igneous in nature, the rocky massif of the church complex is primarily composed of two kinds of volcanic basalt. The churches have been carved top-down from the sections of porous basaltic scoriae using chisels, axes, and other blades." (Link)

Connection: Marian Shrines

Lalibela – Biete Maryam, dedicated to the Virgin (Link)

Connection: Multilingual inscriptions

Lalibela – Biete Maryam: The ceiling is supported by twelve pillars, one of which, located in the center, symbolically represents Jacob's ladder. This particular pillar is engraved on its four sides with symbols and texts in Ge'ez, Hebrew, and Arabic. (Wikipedia)

Connection: Mummies

Lalibela – Bet Giyorgis: "Some of the cavities in the walls surrounding the church hold mummified corpses (...)." (Link)

Connection: Prison

Lalibela – "Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos/House of St. Mark) may be a former prison because of ankle shackles found there." (Wikipedia)

To be continued...

Last new connections for Lalibela. If they are accepted, Lalibela will have gone from 20 to 39 connections.

Connection: Thefts since inscription

Lalibela – The Lalibela Cross, held by the Bet Medhane Alem, "was stolen in March 1997, but located in Belgium in 1999, when a dealer in Addis Ababa sold it to a Belgian collector for US$25,000. After the collector's money was returned and it was agreed that no further legal action would be taken, the cross was returned to Ethiopia in 2001." (Wikipedia)

Connection: Tombs

Lalibela – Biete Golgotha Mikael contains the tomb of King Lalibela. It is said to be located in the basement. The dust from the tomb of King Lalibela is sacred because it is said to have the virtue of healing the sick. Pilgrims travel there to receive this dust only through a priest assigned to this task. (Wikipedia)

Connection: Unfinished constructions

Lalibela – Biete Qeddus Mercoreus appears to have never been completed. (Wikipedia)

Connection: Vernacular architecture

Lalibela – "The whole of Lalibela offers an exceptional testimony to the medieval and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia, including, next to the eleven churches, the extensive remains of traditional, two storey circular village houses with interior staircases and thatched roofs." – "The association of the rock-hewn churches and the traditional vernacular circular houses, in the surrounding area, still demonstrate evidences of the ancient village layout." (OUV)

Already existing, but adding rationale

Connection: Christian Pilgrimage Sites

Lalibela – "Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilgrimage and devotion." (Official description) – "The original function of the site as a pilgrimage place still persists and provides evidence of the continuity of social practices." (OUV)

The end.