Stories Tagged ‘Historical’

A Search Renewed: De Soto, Tascalusa Battle Site Remains Elusive

Almost 500 years after Hernando De Soto explored the Americas, University of Alabama researchers are reinvigorating efforts to break one of many links between fruitless searches and the Spanish conquistador.

Historian Uncovers New Freedoms, Fears among Christians in China

April 17, 2009 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: ,

Changes in communist China's attitudes toward religion have allowed many Catholics to live in the open, but they live in terror - their freedom may be removed at any moment.

All in the Hips

December 16, 2008 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: , , ,

The crashing of the enormous fluked tail on the surface of the ocean is a “calling card” of modern whales. Living whales have no back legs, and their front legs take the form of flippers that allow them to steer. Their special tails provide the powerful thrust necessary to move their huge bulk.

Stalking the Ghost Bird

October 20, 2008 - Filed under: Environmental, Social Science | Tagged: , ,

When Dr. Michael Steinberg was 11, he was cutting through a coastal pine forest to go fishing while he and his parents were vacationing near Fort Meyers, Fla. As he was walking, he caught sight of three big woodpeckers, two of which seemed to be engaged in some kind of courtship ritual.

Hanging by a Thread

November 23, 2007 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged:

Going down any red carpet these days, a celebrity is always asked, “Who are you wearing,” referring to the clothes’ designer.

Uncovering Well-Kept Secrets

August 8, 2007 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: ,

Access to the Vatican Secret Archives is a privilege granted to only a limited number of researchers each year. Dr. Anthony Clark, assistant professor of Chinese history at The University of Alabama, had access to the Secret Archives and the Pope’s private library in Vatican City last summer to research 14th through 17th century letters between European and Chinese monarchs.

White Gold

August 3, 2007 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: ,

If you were living 1,000 years ago, among your primary concerns would have been obtaining salt. Yep, sodium chloride… good ol’ table salt.

Oldest Writing from New World Creates Buzz

April 13, 2007 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: , ,

Carved across the surface of a 26-pound stone slab unearthed in Veracruz, Mexico is the oldest known writing ever discovered in the Americas, according to a paper published in the Sept. 15 issue of the journal Science by a 7-person team of archaeologists, including Dr. Richard A. “Dick” Diehl, professor of anthropology at The University of Alabama.

Capturing Moundville’s Magic

December 9, 2005 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: , , ,

A $3 million makeover of the Moundville Archaeological Park’s museum will allow display of its world-class Mississippian Indian artifacts in a manner befitting the site of one of the Top 100 tourist events in the United States and Canada.

Mighty, Mysterious Moundville

December 8, 2005 - Filed under: Social Science | Tagged: , , ,

Twenty-eight flat-topped earthen mounds, covered in grass, rise from the ground at the outskirts of Moundville, the small Alabama town that owes its name to their presence. The area's tranquility belies the bustling economic and ceremonial center this place, at one time the largest city north of Mexico, once was.

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