Educational Media Reviews Online

Director Rosemont’s 16-minute documentary film is a gripping narrative into the archaeological excavation of the Tejan Tribe’s “Cache Caves.” The site, located in what is now referred to as Kern County, California, was discovered in 2012 as a site full of artifacts that was seemingly being ransacked by unknown individuals. Wanting to preserve as many artifacts as possible, archaeologists from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History began a multi-year excavation to preserve the cave’s history. Simultaneously, the film has members of the Tejan Tribe describe their connection to their ancestors and the discovered objects.

The film is about more than archaeological findings; the focus of the film is acknowledging and appreciating the culture and history of the people who have been silenced under colonialism. The film challenges the viewer to think beyond the westernized conceptions about archeology–that it’s an academic or harmless pursuit of uncovering the past. It achieves this by having members of the Tejan Tribe discuss their spiritual and kindred connection to the past and the necessity of learning about their people through these excavations. The film is graceful at how it analyzes western archaeology; it is never accusatory, but makes it clear why decolonizing archaeology is essential for cultural preservation and growth.

The cinematography of this documentary is vivid. Much of it was filmed directly in Cache Cave and the imagery presents a powerful play on shadows and light. While this run time is brief, the film is successful in relaying its message without it feeling incomplete or overplayed. The film would be an excellent addition to collections supporting archaeology programs. It brings up many important ethical and cultural questions contemporary archaeologists should be asking themselves–this could result in dynamic and nuanced conversations in the classroom.

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