1984 Archeological Survey

After a prairie fire swept over the battlefield on August 10, 1983, burning nearly 600 acres of dense vegetation, the National Park Service began an unprecedented systematic archeological survey of the Custer Battlefield in May and June of 1984. Led by archeologists Dr. Douglas D. Scott of NPS and Dr. Richard A. Fox, Jr., formerly of the University of Calgary, archeologists and volunteers surveyed the battlefield for five weeks and located historical evidence from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Among the 1,159 artifacts recovered were iron arrow heads, bullets, cartridges, buttons, coins, soldier skeletal remains, boots, military and horse equipment, and personal items of soldiers and warriors. Analysis of these artifacts and remains provides important clues about the weapons, tactics, equipment, and movements during the battle. Forensic examination of 7th Cavalry skeletal remains also humanized cavalrymen who had until then been mere statistics and revealed clues to their identification, height, age, health, and how they died. Used together with accounts of battle participants, placement of soldier bodies, and 7th Cavalry and warrior markers, the archeological evidence helps reconstruct the battle. Additional archeological surveys were conducted here and on adjacent lands in 1985, 1989, 1991, 1994, and 1999, and likely will continue in the future.

Crow Agency, Montana · United States