Underwater and Oceanic Oddities : WebUrbanist Underwater and Oceanic Oddities Most of the planet is covered in water and many of the world’s strangest stories and most amazing mysteries surround the vast expanses of it that cover the Earth. From remote islands to underwater cities, sea forts to floating utopias, here are some of the most mysterious, intriguing and impressive wonders of the world’s lakes, seas and oceans. 7 Underwater Wonders of the World: As modern technologies have evolved so to has our ability to see deep underwater and locate long lost cities and other buried treasures. Many of these discoveries have resulted in more questions than answers, however, and have created more mysteries than they have solved. 7 Island Wonders of the World: Each of these islands holds a world record though some of them are more dubious than others. Amazing Private Islands of the World: Most of us dream of owning a private island of our own – but for some of the super-rich this dream is an amazing reality.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Responding to Learners Pack Download the PDF version of this pack1 This resource pack synthesises the outcomes from the Learner Experiences of e-Learning theme of the JISC e-Learning Programme which funded a total of ten projects from 2005 to 2009, and had the sustained involvement of over 200 learners and more than 3000 survey respondents to explore learners’ perceptions of and participation in technology-enhanced learning in a digital age. The content of Responding to Learners includes a series of five guides and a set of key messages postcards containing quotes from learners. The postcards summarise the key findings from this JISC-funded research and can form the basis for staff development activities. The series of guides offer recommendations on how institutions can better respond to learners’ expectations and uses of technology and offers practical guidance on how to embed the learners’ voice more effectively into institutional processes and practice. Guide for
BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | Lost city 'could rewrite history' By BBC News Online's Tom Housden The remains of what has been described as a huge lost city may force historians and archaeologists to radically reconsider their view of ancient human history. Marine scientists say archaeological remains discovered 36 metres (120 feet) underwater in the Gulf of Cambay off the western coast of India could be over 9,000 years old. The vast city - which is five miles long and two miles wide - is believed to predate the oldest known remains in the subcontinent by more than 5,000 years. The site was discovered by chance last year by oceanographers from India's National Institute of Ocean Technology conducting a survey of pollution. Using sidescan sonar - which sends a beam of sound waves down to the bottom of the ocean they identified huge geometrical structures at a depth of 120ft. Lost civilisation The city is believed to be even older than the ancient Harappan civilisation, which dates back around 4,000 years. Chronological problem
The Design Studio / FrontPage Sex In The Middle Ages: 10 Titillating Facts You Wanted To Know But Were Afraid to Ask By David MortonImages: History of Sex: Middle Ages Without the Christian church of the Middle Ages, Sigmund Freud of the 19th century would have been out of work. Many of the deepest ideas and notions of sex that we hold today were formulated and laid down in the Middle Ages, especially by the Church’s sometimes confused and other times severe pronouncements. The Church had opinions and laws about every aspect of sex. Adultery and fornication in some cases were sins punishable by death, but for a time the Church actually condoned prostitution, admitting that it was a necessary evil. And in the early part of the Middle Ages, priests were actually allowed to marry and have children. But despite the Church’s overall opposition to sex, it appeared to be very interested in the subject. Courtly Love: You can look, but you’d better not touch Courtly love is associated with the Knight who falls in love with the married woman – or at least the idea of the pure woman. Homosexuality: Psst!
Europe’s Top 25 Castles – The Best Castles in Europe There is something about castles that inspires awe and at the same time touches a gentler, more romantic side in each of us. And if you want to visit and tour some of the best castles in the world, then Europe should be your destination as this continent certainly has more than its share. Here are the top 25 castles in Europe, in no particular order. 1. Neuschwanstein Castle For many of those that see this castle for the first time, they get a niggling feeling that Castle Neuschwanstein looks so familiar. 2. Peles Castle Known as one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, Peles Castle can be discovered in the majestic Carpathian Mountains, near the town of Sinaia, Romania. 3. Bojnice Castle Bojnice Castle is located in Bojnice, Slovakia and is one of the most delightful romantic castles in Europe. 4. Castillo de Coca Built in the 15th century by the Archbishop of Seville, the incredible Castle of Coca or Castillo de Coca is considered to be one of the best castles in Spain. 5. 6. 7. 8.
How did the ancient city of Palmyra support such a large population? Published on June 20th, 2012 | by Sevaan Franks The ancient Roman city of Palmyra once supported a population of 100,000 people in the middle of the desert. Now researchers, using satellite photographs, believe they have figured out how this was possible. Professor Meyer and his colleagues came to realise that what they were studying was not a desert, but rather an arid steppe, with underground grass roots that keep rain from sinking into the soil. Rainwater collects in intermittent creeks and rivers called wadi by the Arabs. The archaeologists gathered evidence that residents of ancient Palmyra and the nearby villages collected the rainwater using dams and cisterns. Local farmers also cooperated with Bedouin tribes, who drove their flocks of sheep and goats into the area to graze during the hot season, fertilising the farmers’ fields in the process. [Full story] Story: Physorg | Photo: J.C. Tags: Cities, Desert, Palmyra, Romans
Jordan Times AMMAN — Regional politics, Jordanian hospitality and a stroke of luck kindled a three-decade-old love affair between a team of French archaeologists and one of the Kingdom’s most important archaeological sites. Last week marked the 30th anniversary of an excavation by the team that led to the reconstruction of the ancient city of Jerash and the shattering of many assumptions about daily life 2,000 years ago. According to the archaeologists, their lifelong bond with the Greco-Roman city sprouted from a chance encounter. The archaeological team from the French Institute of the Near East that is now synonymous with Jerash was originally destined for Lebanon, but the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country forced them to relocate to Jordan. “It turned out 1982 was not the best time to be in Lebanon,” said Jacques Seigne, who has overseen the Jerash project since its inception. “They simply asked us if we wanted the Temple of Zeus. Cultural clues
Excavations at Ancient Galilean Synagogue Expose Samson Mosaic December 2012 update: The Samson mosaic was published for the first time ever in Huqoq excavation director Jodi Magness’s article “Samson in the Synagogue” in the January/February 2013 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. Read more about the Samson mosaic here in Bible History Daily here, or read Magness’s full article in the BAS Library here. Recently discovered mosaics at the Late Roman Galilean synagogue at Huqoq include Hebrew texts (see accompanying photo) as well as narrative scenes, including a depiction of Samson from Judges. Photograph by Jim Haberman, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday that recent excavations at Huqoq, Israel, have exposed a monumental 4th-5th century C.E. synagogue with detailed mosaic floors. Jodi Magness gave a statement in the IAA press release. Read the press release on the IAA site. Interested in early synagogues? Not a library member yet? Atkinson, Kenneth, Eshel, Hanan, Magness, Jodi.