The land holds on to things.

Footsteps. Marks on stone. Stories that don't always stay where they happened.

In this chapter, I sit down with Ronnie Hart, a man who's spent real time out in the canyons, spending time in places most people never see, learning the land one stretch at a time.

What he shares isn't something you'll find written down.

It's what comes from being out there long enough, long enough to notice things and long enough for something to notice you back.

Out here in The V, the land holds on to its stories..as not all of them stay buried.

Have you ever dug shelters anywhere in Val Verde County, Texas? Want to share your story? I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me through my Facebook page @Ancient Whispers of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands and be part of this project or let me know what you think of this podcast or the other stories found @ TheV.Alitu.com. I appreciate you, the worldwide listeners!

Special thanks to Mr. Ronnie Hart for sharing his experiences as well as Kerri for her awesome haunting canyon flute music.

I hope you enjoy and stay tuned for Chapter 3!

-Rancho

Personal Facebook: Rancho Del Cielo

These are the people who crawled beneath the rim and worked the ancient shelters scattered throughout the canyon walls. The stories they carry aren't polished or academic. They're straight, unvarnished, and full of the kind of history you won't find in books.

In this episode, I sit down and talk with Digger Dan as he shares his experiences digging in the rockshelters and caves of Val Verde County, Texas.

Along the way we'll explore the culture, the mystery, and the realities of life spent searching the canyonlnds.

If you've ever dug shelters anywhere in Val Verde County, and would like to share your story, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to me through my Facebook page @Ancient Whispers of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands and be part of this project or let me know what you think of this podcast or the other stories found @ TheV.Alitu.com

I hope you enjoy and stay tuned for Chapter 2!

-Rancho

In 1590, outlaw settler Gaspar Castano de Sosa led an unauthorized expedition north through the harsh canyon country of what is now Val Verde County, Texas.

What he encountered here may have followed him all the way to his death.

I'm Rancho, from Val Verde County, Texas. Etched in my bones and forged in my soul.

If you enjoyed the immersive journey into the Underworld or have thoughts about this story, I'd love to hear from you! Catch me on my Facebook page:

Ancient Whispers of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands.

A special thank you to the following:

David Castillo (The voice of Gaspar Castano de Sosa)

Karina P. Castillo (The voice of Gaspar Castano de Sosa's spouse)

Victoria Sanchez for her beautiful prayers found throughout this episode.

Kerri_Flute for her awesome, haunting canyon flute music. Totally gifted without a doubt!

The followers of my Facebook Page and TheV.Alitu.com

My beautiful bride for keeping me in check as I constantly kicked around ideas for this project.

Enjoy!

-Rancho

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!

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

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

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

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"

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.