Utah State University Study Bolsters Shoshone Narrative Of Bear River Massacre

(Logan, UT) — A research project conducted by Utah State University archaeologists supports the Shoshone native narrative of a 19th century massacre. On January 29, 1863, a group of U.S. Army soldiers from Utah attacked the Shoshone peoples’ settlements near what today is Preston, Idaho. The tribal narrative says the women and children ran for their lives down a ravine toward the Bear River. However, today the Bear River is not close to where the original settlements were located. Ken Cannon with USU’s Archaeological Services says the new study shows the Bear River used to flow some 500 feet closer to the old village than where it is today, lending greater credence to the tribal legend.