Synopses & Reviews
In August, 1983, a grassfire raged up Deep Ravine and across the dry, grasscovered battlefield where, in 1876, men of the Seventh U.S. Cavalry under
George Armstrong Custer had fought and died at the hands of a Sioux and
Cheyenne force led by Sitting Bull. The removal of the normally dense ground
cover revealed enough evidence to suggest that an archaeological survey would
be fruitful and perhaps could address some unanswered questions about the
battle.
Describing archaeological investigations during the first year (1984) of a two-year survey, this book offers a detailed analysis of the physical evidence remaining after the battle. Precise information regarding the locations of artifacts and painstaking analyses of the artifacts themselves have uncovered much new information about the guns used in the battle by the victorious Indian warriors.
Not only have the types of guns been identified, but through the use of archaeological and criminal-investigative techniques the actual numbers of firearms can now be estimated. This analysis of the battlefield, which represents a significant advance in methodology, shows that the two forces left artifacts in what can be defined as "combatant patterns."
What did happen after Custer's trumpeter, John Martin dispatched with an
order for Captain Benteen to "be quick" turned and saw the doomed battalion for the last time? Written to satisfy both professional and layman, this book is a vital complement to the historical record.
About the Author
Douglas D. Scott, who received the Ph.D. from the University of Colorado,
Boulder, is Chief of the Rocky Mountain Research Division, Midwest Archeological Center, National Park Service, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Richard A. Fox, Jr., who holds a Ph.D. in archaeology from the University of Calgary, has had many years' experience working on prehistoric Indian sites on the Northern Plains.
Dick Harmon is an expert on firearms of the era of the Indian Wars.