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
Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West www.wildwestextra.com/
Email me! www.wildwestextra.com/contact/
Buy me a coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest
Free Newsletter! wildwestjosh.substack.com/
Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! / wildwestextra
My Sixty Years On The Plains by W.T. Hamilton - www.amazon.com/dp/1695768930?...
Merchandise! www.teepublic.com/user/wild-w...
Book Recommendations! www.amazon.com/shop/wildweste...
Пікірлер: 147
Scalping. Because carrying around a bunch of heads is too cumbersome
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
That's a good t-shirt idea
@ShawnKWHumphrey
11 ай бұрын
@@WildWestExtravaganza add a sticker for ammo boxes to the scalping merch ideas…
@marniusvanderlubbe
11 ай бұрын
I'm actually kinda surprised scalping wasn't more popular in different times in history
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I got stickers
@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
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
11 ай бұрын
Women will scalp you quicker than any warrior
@sharrielee911
5 ай бұрын
I laughed wayyyy to hard at this comment 😂 lmao 🤣
Using a scalp as a napkin?? “Can you pass me a scalpkin please sir?”
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I like it
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
11 ай бұрын
Wow
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
11 ай бұрын
Wow. Where did it happen at?
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 😂
Hair raisin stories you tell, young feller. Carry on!❤😮😊
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
You just caused alcohol abuse. When you said why were they scalping peckers instead of top knots I spit my Jim bean out
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Ha
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.
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
Ай бұрын
Wow, crazy
Nothing is new under the sun
@swhip897
11 ай бұрын
Just repackaged. 🤨😀
I guess being scalped would be better than being staked to the ground and getting a fire built on your crotch.
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.
I love your podcast. Great to listen to.
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Thank you
Humans have been using fur from animals for a long time.. Humans are most visous animal.
I love your introductions to the video
@WildWestExtravaganza
Ай бұрын
Thanks!
Great show
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
11 ай бұрын
Yeah, I think that would be an interesting topic. Good suggestion.
@jimmylight4866
10 ай бұрын
I always wanted a shrunken head.
I love the rolled R's
@WildWestExtravaganza
6 ай бұрын
Thanks
I watched an overview of Blood Meridian, I'm pretty much an expert on this subject
I love how early u upload these man!! Great thing to listen after a long stressful night of dealing with dipshits at work
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I know how that goes
@godwarrior3403
11 ай бұрын
Do something to get it out of your head, cuz dipshits from work aren't thinking about it right now
"I dont want his pork-chop. I want his beautiful hair to adorn my back-pack." -pre kayak chant, Sonoran desert, AZ. WOOOOOOOOH!
Been looking forward to this.. Wednesday 9:00 Eastern Australian time. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺👍🏼 Effing love the Extraavaaaganzaa
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Thanks Stewart
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Good evening
@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.
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
11 ай бұрын
I appreciate that!
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
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
Scalp hunters would refer to scalps as " certificates". There is evidence that the Chinese did as well.
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
11 ай бұрын
Apparently there are archeological digs showing proof of scalping hundreds of years prior to Leif
@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
11 ай бұрын
Possible I reckon
I will now refer to circimcision as pecker scalping from now on lmao
Well done. Another goot un
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Thanks
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
11 ай бұрын
I also do appreciate all of you other videos though. Doesn’t get much more ‘murican than the Wild West. 🇺🇸
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I really hope to do a series on Hardin very soon
@GG-jw8pt
11 ай бұрын
Anyone notice how most of the infamous outlaws had English surnames?
Samuri head hunting culture made a come back in WW2.
If I’m going to take a “souvenir” it’s going to be easy like a finger or eye, scalping is too savage.
@jimmylight4866
10 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
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?
It seems that scalping was almost like talking crap when winning a game, you win, you scalp, just like win, talk crap.
Dammit Josh almost don't want to watch this one😂😂😂 almost LOL
I'd rather find great grandpas scalping bag, then great great grandpas d**khead bag.😂
The French. It's a trapper thing.
Boom shocka loka.
Man it's been hot as hell here in Brownsville Texas
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I bet
Good Stuff
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Appreciate it, Walter
Josh. Been a while buddy. We still listen.
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Hey man
I did not have "scalping peckers" on my WWEX bingo card.
@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
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
Makes me want to wear my motorcycle helmet😱
Please do Emil Lewis holmdahl
It was probably the mongrels
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
5 ай бұрын
Many people were scalped alive, some even survived
@sharrielee911
5 ай бұрын
@@WildWestExtravaganza thx josh... amazing video☺️
@WildWestExtravaganza
5 ай бұрын
Thank you
Mexicans scalps were sold has Indian scalps because people couldn't tell the difference between the two
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.
When you find out that "American Indians" have Eurasian DNA then you understand how scalping got here..lol
When I try to play it an error occurs
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Hmmm, not sure why.
That’s why they called them Savages?
@jmpsthrufyre
6 ай бұрын
It's one of the reasons Europeans are referred to as savage. Dumping sewage out of Windows is another🌠
Any history on that photo?
The photograph. It must be acted, posed. But I wonder, it looks so real. What's the story of the photograph?
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
I wish I knew
yeeeaaaaah
❤
I apologize for any confusion my comment was deleted i made a mistake
@WildWestExtravaganza
7 ай бұрын
It's all good!
I’ve not listened to this yet but I am really hoping you mention Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian.
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Uh oh
@nathanielgreer2764
11 ай бұрын
@@WildWestExtravaganza well darn. Have you read it? It’s about Judge Holden. It is brutal.
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Of course! I did an episode on it long ago...new one is in the works
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
11 ай бұрын
I don't know but maybe a scalp hunter. Salt it down real good and dry it...like pork skins
@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
10 ай бұрын
@@WildWestExtravaganza😂😂😂
Who is on the picture in the thumbnail? Real or staged?
@WildWestExtravaganza
Ай бұрын
No idea but it was staged
@katipohl2431
Ай бұрын
@@WildWestExtravaganza Thank you for the fast response and greetings from a fan of the old West in Northern Germany.
@WildWestExtravaganza
Ай бұрын
Hello Germany!
Just the one picture? I thought this was supposed to be a video ...
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Is it not working?
Watch yer topknot.
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Yep, you watch yourn
I've.read. The. Scrotum was. Another. Prize. And. Breasts. For tobacco. Pouches ?
Logically gruesome or the othern watch your top knot
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
Yep, watch yourn
I enjoy your podcast immensely, but Washakie is pronounced Wash ah key...
@WildWestExtravaganza
3 ай бұрын
Noted
Too many commercials. Four commercial breaks in a 22 minute video is excessive.
@jimmylight4866
10 ай бұрын
Its almost like watching tv😂
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
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.
Are you taking into consideration that so called native Americans came across the Bering strait from Siberia
@WildWestExtravaganza
11 ай бұрын
No
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