These films are valuable not only as records of the original excavation of several important archaeological sites, but also as historical documentation of the public's involvement and interest in this type of expedition at this particular time in American history. In addition to documenting the excavations, the films also provide a detailed visual record of the experience of travel and camp life during this era. Although recent attention has been given to Stirling's films of his expeditions to Dutch New Guinea, the films of the Central and South American expeditions have yet to garner much interest. Combining footage from two separate films, this work documents excavations at the Olmec sites of La Venta and Cerro de las Mesas. The film records the techniques used to unearth several important altars and tombs.
Good detail is given to the recovered artifacts.
Hunting Prehistory on Panama's Unknown North Coast. This film concentrates on the 1952 excavations of many small sites in Northern Panama, with detail given of the recovered artifacts. The film balances the archaeological focus with footage of the local environment. This 1954 film documents the experience of traveling through Panama by boat, horse and foot, recording the flora and fauna of various parts of the country but focusing mainly on ethnographic research. On the Trail of Prehistoric America.