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


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


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


Book 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.


About the Author
Douglas D. Scott is Chief of the Rocky Mountain Research Division, Midwest Archaeological Center, National Park Service. Richard A. Fox, Jr. is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. Melissa A. Connor is a consulting forensic archaeologist. Dick Harmon, retired from the U.S. Geological Survey, is an expert on firearms of the Indian Wars.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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.

"This book answers some of the questions that have eluded interested historians since that fateful day in 1876. Using metal detectors in a very systematic manner, searchers were able to find more than 5100 artifacts which included cartridge cases, bullets, whole cartridges, human remains, personal equipment, buttons, coins, jewelry, weapons parts, horse remains and leather equipment, and hardware."--Denver Westerner's ROUNDUP

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