The camp that occupied the Little Bighorn valley in late June 1876 was, by any measure, an extraordinary gathering.

The river the Lakota called the Greasy Grass — the Little Bighorn — ran through a wide valley in what is now southeastern Montana.

The camp stretched for miles along the western bank, organized into six or seven tribal circles, each located near the others but maintaining the internal structure that Plains camp organization required.

The Hunkpapa circle was at the southern end of the camp, closest to the direction from which the soldiers would eventually approach.

Inside the camp was an entire society.