According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an archaeologist is a noun that describes “someone who studies the buildings, graves, tools, and other objects of people who lived in the past.” The documentary film “The Stones Are Speaking” is about the discovery of an archaeological site uncovered in Central Texas. I was not aware of the discovery of the site, as I did not follow all the archaeological work done in Texas or elsewhere. After viewing the film, it certainly made me feel so much more informed about archeology in general, as well as learning more about Archaeologist Mike Collins, who worked tirelessly for so long to conduct the research, advocate for the site and all it was revealing, as well as his willingness to save the 30 acres deep in the heart of Texas, along the Williamson/Bell county line north of Austin, Texas. I highly recommend watching this film and sharing it with family and friends to learn and share the valuable history it offers.
Emmy-nominated journalist Olive Talley is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Texas. She is a director, writer, and producer with a career that spans documentary filmmaking, network television, and news reporting for newspapers, an international wire service, and radio stations in Texas. The story about the site introduces information about the families who have owned the property over a long period, their efforts to find artifacts, and how they came to meet Archaeologist Mike Collins. Although the property owners may have been hesitant to open their land for various activities, the deeply dedicated and determined Archaeologist Mike Collins arranged and coordinated the research to be done, as accepted by the (then) current family owners. Learning about Mr. Collins from his youth to the present is also very interesting, as he is dedicated to learning a great deal about human history, which dates back centuries, with evidence of people living in Central Texas 20,000 years ago. His work (along with all others involved) on the site revealed it as one of the most significant sites in the Americas, now known as the Gault Archaeological Site.
“I hope the film inspires people,” said Writer/Director Olive Talley. “In this case, to preserve history before it’s irretrievably lost. If we could all be like Mike Collins, the world would be a better place. He gave selflessly to others, shared his knowledge, educated students, and ultimately saved precious history for the benefit of all of us.” (This quote is provided within the press materials provided.)
John McCaa is the Narrator for the film. He is a familiar and trusted face in television news in North Texas and beyond. During a 40-plus-year career in broadcast news at WFAA in Dallas and WOWT in Omaha, John has produced or participated in the production of numerous award-winning pieces of journalism as a News Anchor, Reporter, Writer, Producer, and Researcher. He holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from Creighton University, a Master’s in Politics from the University of Dallas, and a PhD in the History of Ideas from the University of Texas at Dallas. He and his wife, Nora, live in Edinburg, Texas.
The film was previously part of the Made in Texas Film Series on Texas PBS Stations in March and is available via the PBS App. The Stones Are Speaking had its theatrical World Premiere at the Austin Film Festival last October, where it won the Audience Award for Best Texas Independent Feature. Viewers nationwide can now watch the film On Demand starting in May 2025. The film is being released independently on Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play, with distribution guidance from Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films and technical support from Bitmax. For more information, visit The Stones Are Speaking website: https://thestonesarespeaking.com.
Source: Texas PBS, Austin Film Festival, Olive Tally Productions