Shadow of A Doubt

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of A Doubt
Issue: November 2005
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Date: November 2005

This issue of the National Capital Area Skeptics' monthly calendar, 'Shadow of A Doubt,' focuses on a public lecture by Walter F. Rowe, PhD, titled "'We died at such a place!': The Interaction of Battlefield Archaeology and Forensic Science." The newsletter also includes updates on NCAS board activities and announcements for other events.

Lecture: Battlefield Archaeology and Forensic Science

Walter F. Rowe, PhD, from the Department of Forensic Sciences at The George Washington University, is scheduled to give a lecture on Saturday, November 12, 2005, from 2 to 4 pm at the Montgomery County Library, Bethesda Branch. The lecture will explore how battlefield archaeology, a discipline that interprets human behavior on battlefields through excavated remains and artifacts, can be enhanced by forensic science.

Rowe's work involves analyzing firearms-related artifacts recovered from the site of the Fetterman Massacre, which occurred in 1866 near Kearney, Wyoming. In this event, Captain William Fetterman and his command of eighty men were ambushed and killed by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The recovery of fired bullets and expended cartridges from the site allows for detailed analysis.

Forensic science's contribution includes the interpretation of injuries by forensic pathologists and anthropologists, and the analysis of firearms and cartridges by firearms examiners. The lecture will explain how these techniques can shed light on the events of the Fetterman battle. The newsletter also references the work of archaeologists Douglas Scott and Richard Fox, who used firing pin impressions on cartridges from the Little Big Horn battlefield to reconstruct Custer's Last Stand, and Scott's use of firearms examination in other Indian war battles like Cienegilla, Sand Creek, and Embrio Canyon.

NCAS Board Notes and Activities

The NCAS Board Notes section details recent activities and future plans. On October 18, a working meeting was held, resulting in a settled design for the new NCAS website. Key features of the new site include a prominent homepage for timely articles with archives, improved access to NCAS information and publications, additional external resource links, a uniform page and menu style, and a rehosting to a more capable service. The 'Skeptical Eye' newsletter is finished and will be mailed out soon. Planning for a cable TV program project is still preliminary.

The board agreed to sponsor an annual tribute to the recently deceased NCAS co-founder, Phil Klass, with planning to begin early in the next year. Members will be surveyed about preferred lecture days and topics of concern. NCAS is seeking volunteers to help post announcements in local libraries and on cable TV public bulletins. Additionally, the organization decided to purchase a video projector for use by speakers. Speakers will receive gratuities such as book certificates, a one-year subscription to 'The Skeptical Eye,' and an indefinite subscription to the electronic 'Shadow of A Doubt.'

Alternative venues for monthly lectures are being considered, and suggestions are welcome. Members can contact NCAS via email at [email protected] or by phone at 301-587-3817.

Next NCAS Board Meeting

A board meeting is scheduled to take place immediately after the lecture on Saturday, November 12, at 4 pm. All members are invited to attend.

Other Events and Announcements

Lecture by Sir Harold Evans

An event is announced featuring Sir Harold Evans, an internationally recognized journalist and historian, who will discuss his new book, "They Made America: Two Centuries of Innovators from the Steam Engine to the Search Engine." This free lecture will be held at the Library of Congress on Wednesday, November 9, at 11:30 am in the Pickford Theater. The book covers the lives and significance of over 50 American innovators, from Robert Fulton to Gary Kildall, and has been adapted into a four-part PBS television miniseries. Evans will sign books after the lecture.

NCAS Information

The National Capital Area Skeptics' contact information is provided: P.O. Box 8428, Silver Spring, Maryland 20907. Their telephone number is 301-587-3827, email is [email protected], and website is http://www.ncas.org/. Submissions for 'The Skeptical Eye' can be sent to [email protected].

NCAS is identified as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism, critical thinking, and the scientific investigation of phenomena. The NCAS, as an organization, promotes these values by hosting lectures that examine evidence and encourage rational analysis. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and scientific understanding, as evidenced by their focus on debunking pseudoscience and promoting critical evaluation of claims, particularly in the context of UFOs/UAPs and other unexplained phenomena, as well as highlighting genuine scientific and technological innovation.