Survey of 1863 Battle of Marshall set for March 2010

Marshall, Mo. (November 10, 2009)-- Missouri Valley College, along with Missouri's Civil War Heritage Foundation, will host a reception to honor Doug Scott, forensic archaeologist from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Nov. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center's R. Wilson Brown room on the MVC campus.

Scott will discuss his work on the battlefields at Centralia and Boonville. His team and members of the MVC anthropology and archaeology department will conduct an archaeological survey of the 1863 Battle of Marshall in March 2010.

"This is a great opportunity for our program and for our students," said Peter Warnock, assistant professor of anthropology. "Our students will gain relevant field experience working on the survey next spring."

Noted for his expertise in battlefield archeology and firearms identification having worked on more than 40 battlefield sites, Scott has turned his focus to Missouri Civil War battlefields.

Retired from the National Park Service after more than 30 years with the Department of the Interior, Scott has worked throughout the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain West on a variety of archeological projects. He has served as President of the Colorado Council of Professional Archeologists and the Nebraska Association of Professional Archeologists, and on the Board of Directors of the Society for Historical Archaeology and the Plains Anthropological Society. He was president of the Society for Historical Archaeology in 2006 and 2007.

Scott specializes in nineteenth century military sites archeology and forensic archeology. He was awarded the Department of the Interior's Distinguished Service Award in 2002 for his innovative research in battlefield archeology that started with his work at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Scott's forensic work revolutionized the way we interpret the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which is also known as Custer's last stand.

Scott has also been involved with human rights and forensic investigations since the early 1990s. He uses his knowledge the world over, to help prosecutors win war crimes trials. He testified as an expert witness in Saddam Hussein's Anfal Campaign Trial in December 2006 using battlefield modeling to show that the events under investigation were not combat related deaths but consistent with a firing squad/execution formation.

"Scott is very knowledgeable in the diverse field of anthropology," Warnock said. "Learning from an industry professional will provide valuable insight and understanding for our students."

Individuals interested in getting involved with the survey are encouraged to attend the reception.