In 1975, Dr. Harry J. Shafer stepped into Hinds Cave (site 41VV456) — one of the most sacred archaeological shelters in North America — and began uncovering what time had sealed: ash, sandals, woven fiber, fire-cracked stone, and preserved human feces, known as coprolites.

Nearly fifty years later, this episode brings that moment back.

Written and narrated by Rancho of Val Verde County, Texas, this is a one-hour immersive journey into the cave, followed by a rare extended conversation with Dr. Shafer himself.

He tells what they found.

What it meant.

And what it still holds.

Set in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands and built entirely from verified excavation data. Please join the legendary Dr. Shafer and I and we hope you enjoy the experience.

-Rancho

TheV.Alitu.com

Thanks to Kerri @freesounds.org for the awesome canyon flute music!

A remote shelter deep in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. The fire still scars the walls. The child is still there, curled beneath the ash.

This isn't a legend.

This isn't a story you tell to pass the time.

This is what happened.

In 1936, archaeologist J.Walker Davenport and his crew climbed into the shadow of Eagle Cave, near Langtry, Texas.

What they unearthed wasn't just ancient survival.It was painted pebbles, clay figurines, mescal beans and memories that waited 10,000 years for someone to return.

The report that followed-The Big Bend Basket Maker Papers No.4-became the backbone of this story. Now, it's reawakened.

You'll stand there as jackrabbit stew simmers in the wind.

You'll hear the silence wrap around ancient bone.

You'll feel the canyon hold its breath.

This isn't archaeology.

This is return.

Written and narrated by Rancho-from Val Verde County, Texas. Etched in my bones and forged in my soul...

This is Eagle Cave.

And you're not just listening.

You're in it.

Welcome to 41VV167, Welcome to the V...

The immersive journey you are about to enter is true and taken from the 1938 Big Bend Basket Makers Papers No.4 and from the accounts of the men that were there as found in the Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society-Volume 71/2000.

Portions of this episode include sound effects and ambient recordings licensed under Creative Commons and by Kerri flute who is amazing and can be found on Freesound.org

The Ghost Dance Song, was recorded in 1894 and used for this story. Public domain, and is available via the Library of Congress on the Victor cylinder recordings.

I hope you enjoy this episode and thank you for the feedback left on the respective platforms. Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

-Rancho

Beneath a limestone bench in Val Verde County, Texas, the earth remembers.

Twenty-Two Burials.

One Vertical Shaft.

Seven Thousand Years of Silence.

The Seminole Sink isn't a story you hear, it's one you enter.

Told through layered sound, ancient breath, and the voice of the land itself, this immersive descent follows the excavation of one of the most sacred and mysterious burial sites in the Lower Pecos.

But what was uncovered...was never meant to be disturbed.

Because the Sink...

Doesn't let go.

Welcome to The V, etched in my bones and forged in my soul-

I hope you enjoy what I dub the Ouija Board of The Lower Pecos!

Special Thanks to Jimmy Mercanto for the idea!

-Rancho

In Part 2 of The Mystery of the Nine Burials of the Shumla Caves, we return to the Shumla Caves, with Dr. Thomas Hester. As a teenager leading the Carrizo Springs High School Archaeology Society he and his team conducted their first excavation at site 41VV116 in 1964.

What began as a summer dig, turned into a lifelong journey across the ancient landscapes of Belize, Egypt, and Mexico. This unscripted conversation explores the spark that lit his career, the early fieldwork that shaped him, and the deep roots of a life chasing the past.

Haven't heard Part 1 yet?

Check out S1 E2: The Mystery of the Nine Burials-Shumla Caves.

-Rancho

Step back in time with me into the 1933 George C. Martin Expedition of the Shumla Caves located in the rugged landscape of the Lower Pecos region of Val Verde County, Texas. This episode immerses you into the expedition as a valued member of the team during the time of the Great Depression when America was in the grip of economic despair.

Funded by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, this expedition certainly did not disappoint. This podcast was written by myself after reading and being captivated by the rare 1933 report entitled Big Bend Basket Maker Papers No.3 by the Southwest Texas Archaeological Society and the Witte Memorial Museum along with reading interviews of some of the original team members and their experiences while there in this mysterious yet beautiful place.

At the time of this writing, many of the artifacts are still on display within the halls of the Witte Museum.

I hope you enjoy this!

-Rancho

"Val Verde, etched in bone and forged in my soul"

Step back thousands of years into the rugged landscape of the Lower Pecos region of Val Verde County, Texas. This episode immerses you in the rock-shelters where ancient people thrived, unveiling their rich history. Journey across the Lower Pecos Canyonlands, culminating in an exploration of Baker Cave, where the echoes of their lives still linger and the mysteries they left behind come to life.

Then, step forward into the present as Rancho (Drew Celovsky) sits down with Dr. Thomas R. Hester for a compelling one-on-one conversation about the fascinating excavations at Baker Cave. Together, they reveal the discoveries unearthed, the challenges faced during the excavation, and the incredible stories that bring this ancient site back to life. From the distant past to modern archaeology, this episode bridges time and invites you to uncover the Whispers of the Ancients.