Please keep us updated re any upcoming monographs/pubs resulting from the Pea Ridge (PERI) archaeo project run by Dr. Doug Scott???

I was one of the volunteer "diggers" during two of the archaeo field sessions there at PERI. Sorta a religious experience for me since 4 of my gg-uncles were there at the battle (surname: Griffith, all in Rector's 17th Ark. Infantry).

One day I was digging with my head down, and a man came up and starting asking me questions. I kept digging as I answered him, then looked up when he asked if he could put my name in the paper (!!?!?!?). Turns out he was with the local newspaper (Rogers?) and wrote up what I told him about my Griffith uncles (one was the 2nd in command of the regiment, Lt. Col. John Griffith).

It was really cool watching Doug's staff recording the artifacts via GPS out in the field, then having the data uploaded onto Doug's laptop computer back in the hotel. There we could view it as overlaid on aerial photos of the battlefield...!!!!!

I have a 8mm video I took of our activities there, including the find of the intact (!!!) James artillery shell. If I get some time, I hope to digitize it onto DVDs and make it available, etc.

I have not been back to Pea Ridge NMP since my heart attack, subsequent stent placements, and quadruple bypass surgeries. I seem to be getting perkier lately, and hope that one of these days (soon!!!) I can make it back for the Pea Ridge Foundation events.....!!!!!

thanks y'all...!!!!

Kenneth Byrd
Indianapolis