Documentary from longtime Texas journalist about the unlikely discovery of one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Western Hemisphere discovered serendipitously in Central Texas
DALLAS, Texas—Feb. 25, 2025— Who would think an obscure place in Central Texas holds one of the most significant archaeological finds with global implications? The award-winning documentary, The Stones Are Speaking, from writer/director Olive Talley, tells the inspiring story of how archaeologist Mike Collins, at great risk and personal sacrifice, saved 30 acres of looted land, once a pay-to-dig site, deep in the heart of Texas and revealed it as one of the most significant sites in the Americas, now called the Gault Archaeological site. The film makes its broadcast debut as part of the Made in Texas Film Series and will air on all Texas PBS Stations starting March 17th. The Stones Are Speaking had its theatrical World Premiere at the prestigious Austin Film Festival last October where it won the audience award for best Texas Independent Feature. Viewers nationwide will be able to watch the film on the PBS app starting March 22. View the trailer here.
The Stones Are Speaking shows how the intrepid Collins and his team changed history when they found evidence of people living in Central Texas 20,000 years ago, near the end of the last ice age. These discoveries helped dial back the timeline for human arrival in the Americas and the Gault site would turn out to be one of the most important archaeological sites in the Western Hemisphere helping to change one’s understanding of when and how people filled out this continent. The film is more than a tale of archaeological discoveries, it illustrates the power of an individual to make a difference and what people can accomplish when they work together for the greater good.
“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, and shared his knowledge, educated students, and ultimately saved precious history for the benefit of all of us.”
Olive Talley – Director, Writer, Producer
Olive Talley is an award-winning producer, writer and journalist with a career that spans documentary filmmaking, network television and news reporting for newspapers, an international wire service and radio stations in Texas. Her first feature-length film, ALL RISE For the Good of the Children, premiered at the 2019 USA Film Festival in Dallas and was nominated for a Lone Star Emmy. Olive’s work in New York as a producer at Dateline NBC and ABC’s Prime Time Live! news magazine shows won two Emmy nominations, a National Headliner Award for Outstanding Network Documentary, a Du-Pont Columbia Award for Hurricane Katrina team coverage, and a CINE Golden Eagle Award. Her investigative reporting in radio and newspapers earned dozens of state and national awards, most notably a citation as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, a George Polk Award, and two Texas Headliner Awards. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Olive also attended Harvard University on a Nieman Fellowship. She lives in Dallas.
John McCaa – Narrator
John McCaa 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 countless pieces of award-winning Journalism as a News Anchor, Reporter, Writer, Producer, and Researcher. He holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from Creighton University, a masters 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 Stones Are Speaking will screen in May at The Archaeology Channel International Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon.
For more information on future public screenings and where to watch the 85-minute Director’s Cut on streaming platforms later this Spring visit The Stones Are Speaking website. And visit the PBS Made in Texas website for more programming details. Images and EPK available here.
Facebook: @gaultfilm