Documentary Featuring Cal State L.A. Faculty's Cave Discovery to be Screened at International Film Festival


The Cave of the Glowing Skulls—a documentary film featuring archaeological excavations directed by James Brady, assistant professor of anthropology at California State University, Los Angeles—will be screened at The Archaeology Channel’s International Film and Video Festival, Eugene, Oregon, July 16-19, 2003. Only 20 films out of all the official entries from 19 different countries were recently selected for this screening.

The event is the first specifically archaeological film and video festival in North America. According to The Archaeology Channel, the festival exhibits the diversity of past and present human cultures in the exploration of our place in history and in our world.

Overall, 64 films and videos representing the best works from 19 countries and 5 continents will compete for Festival prizes. Film entries are from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

James Brady, assistant professor of anthropology at Cal State L.A., is a noted cave archaeologist with a specialty in Mayan caves. His scientific investigation of Cueva del Rio Talgua (Cave of the River Talgua) and other caves in the area, done between 1994 and 1996, has significantly changed archaeology’s understanding of this poorly known area of Honduras. At Cueva del Rio Talgua, Brady’s team discovered a remote burial chamber with skeletal remains of perhaps 100 to 200 individuals. The skulls and bones sparkled with tiny calcium crystals from the limestone cave, thus inspiring the site’s nickname, “The Cave of the Glowing Skulls.” The documentary film, which aired on the Discovery Channel, was recognized as a finalist in the documentary division at last year’s 23rd Telly Awards.

Brady earned his B.A. in anthropology from UC Berkeley, M.A. in anthropology from Cal State L.A., and Ph.D. in archaeology from UCLA. He has taught at George Washington University. Brady has also currently been directing cave archaeology research in Mexico and Guatemala. He is an Alhambra resident.

Contact: Carol Selkin, Media Relations, (323) 343-3044