Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn

This is a significant scholarly work. Using the evidence they collected, the authors can support a credible theory for the pattern of the Indian attack. They apparently identify the remains of Mitch Boyer and his final position on the field, and also provide evidence leaning toward potential identifications of one or two troopers on the field. The analysis of cartridge, shell, and bullet artifacts is exhaustive, helping to nail down trooper and Indian firing positions with some weaker support of movement of individual weapons across the course of the battle.The scientific archeological evidence suggests or may resolve many mysteries:1) This book apparently supports theories that Custer evidently had time to make a rudimentary quick deployment in a V shaped line with its point at last stand hill. Clearly, positions chaotically and quickly fell, but a snap decision had evidently been made on how to contain the Indian attack following what was likely a rapid initial retreat2) The Indians were well armed with repeating weapons adequate to maintain constant pressure and control the momentum after deployment. The historical record already implies this, but this investigation goes much further in making statistical inferences of weapon types and numbers and their location on the field.3) That the Indians and troopers may have been more or less equally plagued with misfires and jammed cartridges, but that this alone didn't decide the battle. The Seventh's position was probably too weak to defend, and Indian firepower and quick movement too overwhelming to permit the cavalry to retreat further and make adjustments.4) Some of the current markers on the field are incorrectly placed or there may be too many in some locations.There are probably four stages to Custer's fight. The first was his initial approach to the village. The second was his retreat and fight to the finish. The third was the battle's ending where a possible breakout might have been attempted by a group of survivors. The fourth is the Indian `clean-up' of the battle field finishing off wounded. For me, this book settles many questions regarding the sequence of the second stage of the battle. Uncertainties remain regarding Custer's initial assault on the village, the beginning of his retreat, whether a breakout attempt occurred into the Deep Ravine, and the final stages of the action. This book does address these issues without resolution, but likely more archeology work is necessary along and within the river, within the area occupied by the village, and within the deep ravine.I think one other thing this book clarifies for me is that Custer and his troopers were not incompetent in their actions, but, unlike Reno, just didn't have the time or fortuity to be able to find a position that could be defended given Indian weapons and tactics. I think an unresolved issue is whether he could have chosen to fight a running retreat, or whether Indian pressure and contact was so intense that a deployment seemed necessary.I would recommend this book to anyone who has a strong interest in the battle.

At times, a little dry, but nonetheless, somewhat interesting with its archaeological observations. If you are interested in the Battle of the Little BigHorn, and how it developed, this will provide additional insights and observations.

As a collector of firearms of this period, an avid metal detectorist and an amateur historical archaeologist, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is, at it's heart, an archaeological report but still reads like a narrative. The conclusions are plainly laid out and technical information organized in a usable format.Scott's excavations and subsequent book has obviously influenced contemporary thought as to what actually happened at LBH. However, the evidence is presented without being wrought with arguments and innuendo concerning troop movements and commanders' motivations and invites the reader to further research in order to draw one's own conclusions. The use of modern ballistic techniques that allowed Scott to narrow and confirm the exact type and number of weapons used at the battle is an important and useful study for collectors of Indian Wars firearms.The book could have greatly benefited from a color section that displayed the finds and excavations in greater detail.

This isn't a run thru of the battles of Little Big Horn but it does, as you would suspect, add to the situations and actual forensic evidence on site. It confirms and explains, sometimes disproving too, the efficiency of the rifles, actions of the participants. As you could surmise it is the evidence from an archaeological dig. If you want the story, this isn't the book for you. If you want to dig deeper into the story of the Big Horn you will enjoy the facts in this book.

Excellent examination of the battlefield with a clear depiction of the location and type of bullets found across the battlefield. Does not change the general broad understanding of how the battle unfolded, but adds hard data as to which combatants shot at each other & where. Because of unique markings on some bullets, it was possible to follow some weapons as they moved across the battlefield.

I looked forward to learning more about those who died with Custer on the Little Big Horn. The book did provide some interesting facts I never knew but a lot of the anthropological information was kind of over my head which made for a little dry reading. Overall I thought it was very well written and still would recommend it to history buffs.

I enjoyed this book very much!The one thing I gained from reading this book was a better understanding of how the battle progressed and its culmination.I spent a short summer vacation helping scrape earth from an early Paleo-Indian trash pit, and I know first hand the hard work the author and his group put in.

If you like good, somewhat academic but extremely thorough archeological books, this is a good one. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has fascinated me for a long time and this book answered many of my questions.