Liberty Live’s “Battle and Bones” in Abbeville County

History. Archaeology. Science. Mystery.
What can the bones of a soldier tell us nearly 250 years after he fell in battle?
Southern Campaign 1780’s Liberty Live℠ presents Battle & Bones℠, an innovative theatrical
and hands-on journey into one of the most devastating American defeats of the Revolutionary
War—the August 16, 1780 Battle of Gum Swamp (Camden).
Designed for 8th grade through adult audiences, Battle & Bones begins on the battlefield,
where Maj. Gen. Johann de Kalb introduces participants to the soldiers, events, and terrible
human cost of the battle. Then, nearly 250 years later, a discovery changes the story:
Human remains are found on the battlefield. Who was this soldier—and can we give him back
his name?
Now the audience becomes part of the investigation.
Using model skeletal remains, battlefield archaeology, forensic science, physical anthropology,
primary-source documents, and even DNA analysis, participants follow the evidence from the
battlefield to the laboratory. Along the way, they also step into the battle itself through an
abbreviated version of Liberty Live’s immersive Battle in a Box℠ experience.
Inspired by the remarkable archaeological discoveries made on the Gum Swamp (Camden)
battlefield, including the recovery of the remains of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers in 2022,
Battle & Bones℠ combines history, science, mystery, and audience participation to transform
an unknown soldier into a known individual.
You won’t simply hear what happened.
You’ll investigate it. You’ll experience it. And you’ll help solve the mystery.