Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 328 pages
• Published by: University of Oklahoma Press September 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0806132922
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0806132921
• Book Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

Product Review
"A landmark work that should be required reading for students of the Custer myth or frontier military affairs in general." -- The Western Historical Quarterly

"Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn is well written and edited, and the illustrations are excellent." -- Kansas History

"This book answers some of the questions that have eluded interested historians since that fateful day in 1876. -- Denver Westerner's ROUNDUP

Product Description
Ever since the Custer battle on June 25, 1876, the question has been asked: What happened--what REALLY happened--at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? We know some of the answers because half of George Armstong Custer's Seventh Cavalry--the men with Major Marcus Reno and Captain Frederick Benteen--survived the fight, but what of the half that did not, the troopers, civilians, scouts, and journalists who were with Custer?

Now, because a grass fire in August 1983 cleared the terrain of brush and grass and made thorough archaeological examination possible, we have many answers to these important questions. On the basis of the evidence presented in this book, we know more about what kinds of weapons were used against the cavalry. We know exactly where most of the men fought, how they died, and what happened to their bodies at the time of or after death. We know how the troopers were deployed, what kind of clothing they wore, what kind of equipment they used, and how they fought. Through the techniques of historical archaeology and forensic anthropology, the remains and grave of one of Custer's scouts, Mitch Boyer has been identified.

Reader Reviews
Even though I know all the writers of this book, I'm still NOT biased when I say that Scotts, et al book has changed interpretation dramatically on the Little Bighorn fight. Having worked at the Little Bighorn Battlefield as an interpreter in 1985, I personally know how this interpretation changed, i.e. before the archaeological digs of 1984-85, most of us believed that Custer's men fell mostly to arrows. We now know that the U.S. soldier's were outgunned, thanks to this field work and as reported in the book. Since Scott's final report, headstones on the battlefield marking where "unknown soldier's" fell have been replaced by actual names, e.g. Mitch Bouyer. This reality came to place thanks to the forensic work of Dr. Clyde Snow (his complete report is included in this book). Finally, Scott and his team create a vivid picture of where the soldiers and the Indian warriors moved over the battlefield fighting for what they believed was right.