In the process of crafting my first documentary about archaeology, I developed a new idea. My first attempts to set up video interviews with archaeologists were unsuccessful. As a result, I had to consider the possibility of a documentary without any interviews at all. What would that look like? The vision that came to mind was a kind of “travelogue” that would feature images of archaeological landscapes set to classical music. Occasional quotes or text pieces would accompany the images in order to dodge the crutch of voice-over narration. The title was obvious, but Archaeology Travelogue would not come to life for another eight years.

In the summer of 2015, I was finally able to arrange the first interview for what would become The Cowboys of Science: Tales of American Archaeology. The first interview led to another, and opportunities started falling into place. I made the movie in between professional archaeology assignments, and it was finally released on YouTube in November of 2016. A sequel was planned, but the idea was forced to the back-burner (so far on the back-burner that it fell off behind the stove). From there, I made two other short videos on other topics. Archaeology Travelogue was the next item on my list.

This new video venture would prove to be more difficult than previous projects. I had a clear vision of what to do, but a number of obstacles appeared. These videos are self-financed, and archaeology contractors do not get paid time off. It took three years to find about ten days of actual shooting time. The first episode was designed around the archaeology of the Big Bend region of Texas. Three trips in three straight years, thousands of miles traveled by truck, and dozens of miles hiked on foot finally resulted in the eleven minute first episode of the series.

I hope to continue this project for years to come. Thanks for watching!

Click the VIDEOS tab above to view ARCHAEOLOGY TRAVELOGUE on this site!

My latest venture in the world of archaeology filmmaking will also include a multimedia experience on the Substack platform!  For those unfamiliar, Substack is a platform designed for independent writers.  It is built on a newsletter subscription model, in which readers may subscribe to receive a writer's work directly into their email inbox.  Subscriptions may be free or paid, which allows writers to monetize their work as desired.  In this early stage, my own substack will be offered for free, but a paid option may be available in the near future.  

The first installments of my newsletter include Episode One of the Archaeology Travelogue video series, as well as a timely review of Howard Carter's The Tomb of Tutankhmamen.  (The Carter essay runs over three thousand words, so it's a little long for a typical website post!)  Future essays may include book reviews and other observations from the world of archaeology.  Of course, I will continue posting short-form writing on this website as well.

Click the button below to visit Archaeology Travelogue on Substack!


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