Insights from Archaeological Experiments
Joel Bohy: The field of archaeology offers fascinating insights, particularly when examining fired ammunition. My volunteer work primarily focuses on Revolutionary War sites, and one of my colleagues has been researching the Little Bighorn battlefield, analyzing firing pin impressions to trace the actions of both troopers and Native Americans. In contrast to the challenges faced with Revolutionary War artifacts, where smooth-bore guns leave no distinct signatures, we can still extract valuable information. Each caliber found on-site tells a story, as does its location. By employing geographic information systems (GIS), we meticulously map our findings, revealing new details about historic battles. Last August, we conducted a study whose findings will soon be released, which significantly alters current perceptions of where a specific battle occurred.
We integrate these findings into our live fire studies. Each time we fire a shot, we meticulously detect, bag, and tag the spent ammunition. By documenting all the details of the musket balls we fire, we create a correlation with our archaeological findings. This process allows us to determine various factors such as whether a shot hit a tree or rock and the proximity of a soldier when taking aim—all inferred from the deformation of the musket balls.
Ars Technica: How does firing a musket compare to shooting a modern rifle?
Joel Bohy: The experience varies significantly. Firing a modern rifle is quick; the trigger pull leads to an immediate release of the bullet within milliseconds. In contrast, the musket requires more time. The process involves pulling the cock, the flint striking the hammer, igniting the powder in the pan, then setting off the main charge. This delay allows for anticipation, which can lead to flinching and might affect accuracy compared to a modern rifle. Additionally, firing a musket generates considerable recoil and more smoke due to the black powder, unlike the minimal smoke produced by modern smokeless powder.
