The Gruesome Reality of Scalping in the Old West

Who invented scalping? The Native Americans? Or did the Europeans introduce the atrocious behavior to the New World? The answer - like much of history - is complicated. In this latest installment of My Sixty Years, we join the young fur trapper William Hamilton as he, Old Bill Williams, and the others embark upon the Wind River Country where they make contact with both the Blackfeet and the Shoshone. Brutality and trade ensues. #wildwest #oldwestfacts #history
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Пікірлер: 147

  • @dannysimmons3167
    @dannysimmons316711 ай бұрын

    Scalping. Because carrying around a bunch of heads is too cumbersome

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    That's a good t-shirt idea

  • @ShawnKWHumphrey

    @ShawnKWHumphrey

    11 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza add a sticker for ammo boxes to the scalping merch ideas…

  • @marniusvanderlubbe

    @marniusvanderlubbe

    11 ай бұрын

    I'm actually kinda surprised scalping wasn't more popular in different times in history

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I got stickers

  • @ShawnKWHumphrey

    @ShawnKWHumphrey

    11 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza just ordered 3! Now get on some of those scalp ones for us dark souls and I’ll order more haha

  • @30smsuperstrat
    @30smsuperstrat11 ай бұрын

    My wife scalped me. She didn't even need a knife. After being in a relationship and married to her my hair began falling out with just her evil power to make me unattractive to other women.😂

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Women will scalp you quicker than any warrior

  • @sharrielee911

    @sharrielee911

    5 ай бұрын

    I laughed wayyyy to hard at this comment 😂 lmao 🤣

  • @ElMarko6994
    @ElMarko699411 ай бұрын

    Using a scalp as a napkin?? “Can you pass me a scalpkin please sir?”

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I like it

  • @jimwatson4513
    @jimwatson451311 ай бұрын

    Was 1953 , & i was in first grade @ an old elementry school back east . We had a time called show & , tell !! Kids brought in things from home to tell the whole class about their item !! Well one boy brought a paper bag , looked like he had soft ball in it ! At his turn , he pulled out a real shrunken head from south america !! The whole class was in shock , teacher told him to put it in the bag , and take it back home immediately !!! Class was dismissed for the rest of the day !!! Scalps were kept hidden in trunks as well in early times !! Just real facts from my boyhood past !!!

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Wow

  • @danastaph7708
    @danastaph770811 ай бұрын

    Many years ago, my grandmother related that my great- great grandmother had been scalped as a young woman. She survived and wore a bonnet or scarf even inside for the rest of her life. My mother confirmed the story.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Wow. Where did it happen at?

  • @denisethetford9178
    @denisethetford917811 ай бұрын

    Y'all don't know how many times I scrolled down because the title made my scalp hurt 😂 But here I am, first thing in the morning, listening to Josh 😂

  • @dennistate5953
    @dennistate595311 ай бұрын

    Hair raisin stories you tell, young feller. Carry on!❤😮😊

  • @bigrob1344
    @bigrob134411 ай бұрын

    In the forward to Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, one of the greatest western novels of all time he talks about how there was evidence of scalping in Ethiopia, thousands of years ago

  • @tommywright7196
    @tommywright719611 ай бұрын

    You just caused alcohol abuse. When you said why were they scalping peckers instead of top knots I spit my Jim bean out

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Ha

  • @jgvtc559
    @jgvtc55911 ай бұрын

    most likely saw bears scalp people and got the idea from there, many bear attacks stories ive heard they get scalped at the very least.

  • @debraanchante3661
    @debraanchante3661Ай бұрын

    My grandma told me about an old woman in Oklahoma who had been scalped and survived it. Apparently she lived across the street from my grandma when my grandma was young.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    Ай бұрын

    Wow, crazy

  • @Shaw.77
    @Shaw.7711 ай бұрын

    Nothing is new under the sun

  • @swhip897

    @swhip897

    11 ай бұрын

    Just repackaged. 🤨😀

  • @podunkmissouri4999
    @podunkmissouri499911 ай бұрын

    I guess being scalped would be better than being staked to the ground and getting a fire built on your crotch.

  • @Zionist_Eternal
    @Zionist_Eternal11 ай бұрын

    Love, love this. Yet another rewrite of history, as I learned it in university at a time when Blame-America-First was just getting its legs, debunked. What I likely most admire about WWE is the willingness to stand your ground against established dogma, especially that of what today passes for Academia, and simply say, "Uh, we don't know that." Moreover, I'd never before considered David's act against the Philistines scalping. But, shoot! Why not? Most men of fighting age think more often with their little head.

  • @sarawendler2029
    @sarawendler202911 ай бұрын

    I love your podcast. Great to listen to.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @mikeposavic9646
    @mikeposavic964611 ай бұрын

    Humans have been using fur from animals for a long time.. Humans are most visous animal.

  • @elliemcfadden5511
    @elliemcfadden5511Ай бұрын

    I love your introductions to the video

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @alanclontz1783
    @alanclontz178311 ай бұрын

    Great show

  • @JoeSmith-sl9bq
    @JoeSmith-sl9bq11 ай бұрын

    Im more of a shrunken heads Fan myself. Would you ever consider doing some stories concerning Russian battles against natives in Alaska? The Russian colonists were made up in large part from natives from Siberia, if there Are any records of the almost certainly bloody interactjon between the Siberian and Alaskan natives that would be awesome

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Yeah, I think that would be an interesting topic. Good suggestion.

  • @jimmylight4866

    @jimmylight4866

    10 ай бұрын

    I always wanted a shrunken head.

  • @CarterMalone
    @CarterMalone6 ай бұрын

    I love the rolled R's

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks

  • @godwarrior3403
    @godwarrior340311 ай бұрын

    I watched an overview of Blood Meridian, I'm pretty much an expert on this subject

  • @lawabernathy9256
    @lawabernathy925611 ай бұрын

    I love how early u upload these man!! Great thing to listen after a long stressful night of dealing with dipshits at work

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I know how that goes

  • @godwarrior3403

    @godwarrior3403

    11 ай бұрын

    Do something to get it out of your head, cuz dipshits from work aren't thinking about it right now

  • @nodescriptionavailable3842
    @nodescriptionavailable384211 ай бұрын

    "I dont want his pork-chop. I want his beautiful hair to adorn my back-pack." -pre kayak chant, Sonoran desert, AZ. WOOOOOOOOH!

  • @stewartdalton3298
    @stewartdalton329811 ай бұрын

    Been looking forward to this.. Wednesday 9:00 Eastern Australian time. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺👍🏼 Effing love the Extraavaaaganzaa

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Thanks Stewart

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Good evening

  • @stewartdalton3298

    @stewartdalton3298

    11 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza I understand that you can only do so much but it's all in the storytelling and the quirky ( Nah, I just made that up) scenario that gives me that laugh that I hope 5hat everyone listening appreciates. Ride On My Good Man.

  • @MTGAttitude
    @MTGAttitude11 ай бұрын

    Bro...what an awesome topic. I think i know the answer, but I'm going to watch this through regardless. Thanks for the work Josh, as always good Sir

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I appreciate that!

  • @peterparris7894
    @peterparris789411 ай бұрын

    I just came back from the Cheyenne River reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I was participating in Sundance. They tell a story that their ancestors learned scalping from the Vikings who came in through Canada. The Vikiings were doing their thing (pillaging and scalping) and the Lakota returned the favor and drove them back once they realized how fierce the Lakotas.could fight

  • @byutube4360
    @byutube43609 ай бұрын

    As a Latterday Saint (Mormon) we find a logical explanation in an account in the Book of Mormon where one Captain Moroni scalps a Lamanite (ancestors of native Americans.) I also enjoyed your video on Jim Bridget

  • @jameswilliams3241
    @jameswilliams324111 ай бұрын

    Scalp hunters would refer to scalps as " certificates". There is evidence that the Chinese did as well.

  • @MicahBell_1860
    @MicahBell_186011 ай бұрын

    So, here's my thoughts. Leif Erikson settled in what he called Vinland (New Foundland estimated about 1021. & had skirmishes with the Skreelings (Natives). After many skirmishes the settlement was abandoned. Did Erik learn scalping from the Skreelings & take the practice back to Skandinavia? Or did the Skreelings learn it from Erik & his crew?

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Apparently there are archeological digs showing proof of scalping hundreds of years prior to Leif

  • @MicahBell_1860

    @MicahBell_1860

    11 ай бұрын

    So maybe the Skandinavians learnt the practice from the natives? I understand taking a scalp to prevent the defeated from being complete in the afterlife. But why would they prize somebody else's scalp enough to pay money, horses or squaws?

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Possible I reckon

  • @ElMarko6994
    @ElMarko699411 ай бұрын

    I will now refer to circimcision as pecker scalping from now on lmao

  • @davidadams1374
    @davidadams137411 ай бұрын

    Well done. Another goot un

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Thanks

  • @fast6232
    @fast623211 ай бұрын

    I will hold my breathe until a John Wesley Hardin or Captain Bob Lee video is out. Literally the two most deadly outlaws of the Wild West and no one talks about them😔😔😔

  • @fast6232

    @fast6232

    11 ай бұрын

    I also do appreciate all of you other videos though. Doesn’t get much more ‘murican than the Wild West. 🇺🇸

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I really hope to do a series on Hardin very soon

  • @GG-jw8pt

    @GG-jw8pt

    11 ай бұрын

    Anyone notice how most of the infamous outlaws had English surnames?

  • @SatansSimgma
    @SatansSimgma11 ай бұрын

    Samuri head hunting culture made a come back in WW2.

  • @BuffaloveBills
    @BuffaloveBills11 ай бұрын

    If I’m going to take a “souvenir” it’s going to be easy like a finger or eye, scalping is too savage.

  • @jimmylight4866

    @jimmylight4866

    10 ай бұрын

    😂😂😂

  • @Orygunner67
    @Orygunner6711 ай бұрын

    Hey Josh! Have you done an episode on the Harpe Brothers? If not will you please? Also wondering if you would consider doing an episode on the mountain Man rendezvous? I've heard you mention them both but an episode on each would be awesome! Keep up the great work, I'm always entertained thoroughly! 👍🤠👍

  • @outdoorlife5396

    @outdoorlife5396

    11 ай бұрын

    I agree, I think they could at least do a miniseries on the Harpe Brothers. They always do Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, how about something new?

  • @cuddles6569
    @cuddles656911 ай бұрын

    It seems that scalping was almost like talking crap when winning a game, you win, you scalp, just like win, talk crap.

  • @barryhoggle2354
    @barryhoggle235411 ай бұрын

    Dammit Josh almost don't want to watch this one😂😂😂 almost LOL

  • @UnderestimatedA1
    @UnderestimatedA111 ай бұрын

    I'd rather find great grandpas scalping bag, then great great grandpas d**khead bag.😂

  • @tomjohnson7622
    @tomjohnson762211 ай бұрын

    The French. It's a trapper thing.

  • @UnderestimatedA1
    @UnderestimatedA111 ай бұрын

    Boom shocka loka.

  • @MurderHornet-mo3tm
    @MurderHornet-mo3tm11 ай бұрын

    Man it's been hot as hell here in Brownsville Texas

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I bet

  • @Dewalt2023
    @Dewalt202311 ай бұрын

    Good Stuff

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Appreciate it, Walter

  • @tanberetO
    @tanberetO11 ай бұрын

    Josh. Been a while buddy. We still listen.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Hey man

  • @codyf296
    @codyf29611 ай бұрын

    I did not have "scalping peckers" on my WWEX bingo card.

  • @drewf8619
    @drewf861911 ай бұрын

    @14:23 I *really* want to know which 'Warm Water Springs' he's talking about (and where it was/is). If anyone wants to help out. It would be very much appreciated.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I looked it up when I first read and there's a warm springs in the current Wind River reservation... That might be what he's speaking of

  • @joelmclamore1898
    @joelmclamore189811 ай бұрын

    Makes me want to wear my motorcycle helmet😱

  • @garrettmiller7664
    @garrettmiller766411 ай бұрын

    Please do Emil Lewis holmdahl

  • @joecurmaci5880
    @joecurmaci588011 ай бұрын

    It was probably the mongrels

  • @sharrielee911
    @sharrielee9115 ай бұрын

    Did they die after or before they were scalped means what killed them the scalping coming from the infection of the open wound🤔 just curious😊

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    5 ай бұрын

    Many people were scalped alive, some even survived

  • @sharrielee911

    @sharrielee911

    5 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza thx josh... amazing video☺️

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    5 ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @Ese361
    @Ese36111 ай бұрын

    Mexicans scalps were sold has Indian scalps because people couldn't tell the difference between the two

  • @davidtennyson4908
    @davidtennyson49089 ай бұрын

    Washakie is pronounced "wash a key" , I moved to Worland, Wyoming a few years ago. Was corrected on pronunciation quickly.. Love your channel and content, but remember "Wash a key", not "Wash sock key", That pisses off the locals.

  • @jjmckay6man1
    @jjmckay6man17 ай бұрын

    When you find out that "American Indians" have Eurasian DNA then you understand how scalping got here..lol

  • @iananderson1901
    @iananderson190111 ай бұрын

    When I try to play it an error occurs

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Hmmm, not sure why.

  • @andrewtanczyk4009
    @andrewtanczyk400911 ай бұрын

    That’s why they called them Savages?

  • @jmpsthrufyre

    @jmpsthrufyre

    6 ай бұрын

    It's one of the reasons Europeans are referred to as savage. Dumping sewage out of Windows is another🌠

  • @philporter8031
    @philporter80315 ай бұрын

    Any history on that photo?

  • @mdg4347
    @mdg434711 ай бұрын

    The photograph. It must be acted, posed. But I wonder, it looks so real. What's the story of the photograph?

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I wish I knew

  • @FuriousMess
    @FuriousMess11 ай бұрын

    yeeeaaaaah

  • @swhip897
    @swhip89711 ай бұрын

  • @spqr2124
    @spqr21247 ай бұрын

    I apologize for any confusion my comment was deleted i made a mistake

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    7 ай бұрын

    It's all good!

  • @nathanielgreer2764
    @nathanielgreer276411 ай бұрын

    I’ve not listened to this yet but I am really hoping you mention Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Uh oh

  • @nathanielgreer2764

    @nathanielgreer2764

    11 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza well darn. Have you read it? It’s about Judge Holden. It is brutal.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Of course! I did an episode on it long ago...new one is in the works

  • @Orygunner67
    @Orygunner6711 ай бұрын

    One more question Josh. Would an Indian even be interested in my scalp? I'm 55, bald AF and scrawny. What kind of trophy would that make? Not to mention how would you grip it whilst you cut it off? 🤣

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    I don't know but maybe a scalp hunter. Salt it down real good and dry it...like pork skins

  • @michaeltwowolves3055

    @michaeltwowolves3055

    11 ай бұрын

    You would just grip the skin 😂 another awesome episode Josh!!! Thanks for all you do to get me through the work week!

  • @jimmylight4866

    @jimmylight4866

    10 ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza😂😂😂

  • @katipohl2431
    @katipohl2431Ай бұрын

    Who is on the picture in the thumbnail? Real or staged?

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    Ай бұрын

    No idea but it was staged

  • @katipohl2431

    @katipohl2431

    Ай бұрын

    @@WildWestExtravaganza Thank you for the fast response and greetings from a fan of the old West in Northern Germany.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    Ай бұрын

    Hello Germany!

  • @MysteStorm
    @MysteStorm11 ай бұрын

    Just the one picture? I thought this was supposed to be a video ...

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Is it not working?

  • @spacecowboy2935
    @spacecowboy293511 ай бұрын

    Watch yer topknot.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Yep, you watch yourn

  • @mauriceclark4870
    @mauriceclark48709 күн бұрын

    I've.read. The. Scrotum was. Another. Prize. And. Breasts. For tobacco. Pouches ?

  • @whoopwhoop1584
    @whoopwhoop158411 ай бұрын

    Logically gruesome or the othern watch your top knot

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    Yep, watch yourn

  • @morticia0815
    @morticia08153 ай бұрын

    I enjoy your podcast immensely, but Washakie is pronounced Wash ah key...

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    3 ай бұрын

    Noted

  • @tommyboyindy1157
    @tommyboyindy115711 ай бұрын

    Too many commercials. Four commercial breaks in a 22 minute video is excessive.

  • @jimmylight4866

    @jimmylight4866

    10 ай бұрын

    Its almost like watching tv😂

  • @zutrue
    @zutrue11 ай бұрын

    Old Bill Williams died in March 1849, at age 62 when he was ambushed and killed by Ute warriors So Old Bill didn't believe in mercy for these BlackFeet warriors huh? Well...what goes around comes around. And Old Bill ultimately got what he so eagarly gave. And what he deserved. * Now young chief you can "buy" a squaw>...gee. The racism of [some] of these mountain men was utterly pernicious.

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    "Deserves got nothing to do with it" - William Munny. But yeah, you know the saying...live by the sword, die by the sword.

  • @JohnDoe-bk5hf
    @JohnDoe-bk5hf11 ай бұрын

    Are you taking into consideration that so called native Americans came across the Bering strait from Siberia

  • @WildWestExtravaganza

    @WildWestExtravaganza

    11 ай бұрын

    No

  • @jasonmelius4839
    @jasonmelius483911 ай бұрын

    This is an excellent study of the origins of scalping in North America. James Axtell's work is well respected in academic communities. Long story short, he agrees that scalping was nothing new when Europeans showed up in North America. english.hku.hk/staff/kjohnson/PDF/engl56_kj_axtell_unkindestcut.pdf