Quest for Ancient Civilizations

09/04/2026

MARTIN GRAY — THE BATON IS BEING PASSED
This may be one of the best conversations Martin Gray and I have ever shared. Our story goes back a long way.

I first heard about Martin while I was in København — Copenhagen, Denmark — in 2001. Two years later, in 2003, we finally met in Sedona to talk about the possibility of creating a European tour together.

I had come to Sedona for five days on my way back to Europe.
That was 23 years ago.

Sometimes you don't realize when you meet someone just how far the ripples of that meeting will travel.

Martin has spent a lifetime journeying across this planet, photographing, studying and documenting the world's sacred places. In doing so, he has created one of the most comprehensive and visually impactful bodies of work exploring humanity's sacred landscapes, pilgrimage traditions and our relationship with the ancient world.

But perhaps the most beautiful part is what he decided to do with it.
He chose to share it. Go to SacredSites.com and you can explore Martin's extraordinary archive and download his FREE Sacred Sites Photo Gallery app to carry this beautiful collection with you on your phone.

Thousands of sacred places.
Decades of exploration.
A lifetime behind the camera.

And now a gift for the generations that follow.

That is impact.

We talk so much today about likes, views and followers. But the true ripple effect of a life's work may never be measurable. You create something, share it with the world, and perhaps decades—or generations—later it inspires someone you've never met to begin their own journey.

Martin's work did that for me.
And I know it will do it for others.
Okay, Next Generation… the baton is being passed.

Pick it up.
Go explore.
Ask questions.
Document what you discover.
And leave something meaningful behind for those who come next.

Thank you, Martin, for the friendship, the inspiration and the extraordinary legacy.
— Robert Dakota

The QUEST continues…

09/04/2026

THE BATON IS BEING PASSED
MARTIN GRAY + ROBERT DAKOTA
23 Years of Friendship • A Lifetime of Sacred Sites
What Will the Next Generation Discover?

This may be one of the best conversations Martin Gray and I have ever shared. Our story goes back a long way.

I first heard about Martin while I was in København — Copenhagen, Denmark — in 2001. Two years later, in 2003, we finally met in Sedona to talk about the possibility of creating a European tour together.

I had come to Sedona for five days on my way back to Europe.
That was 23 years ago.

Sometimes you don't realize when you meet someone just how far the ripples of that meeting will travel.

Martin has spent a lifetime journeying across this planet, photographing, studying and documenting the world's sacred places. In doing so, he has created one of the most comprehensive and visually impactful bodies of work exploring humanity's sacred landscapes, pilgrimage traditions and our relationship with the ancient world.

But perhaps the most beautiful part is what he decided to do with it.
He chose to share it. Go to SacredSites.com and you can explore Martin's extraordinary archive and download his FREE Sacred Sites Photo Gallery app to carry this beautiful collection with you on your phone.

Thousands of sacred places.
Decades of exploration.
A lifetime behind the camera.

And now a gift for the generations that follow.

That is impact.

We talk so much today about likes, views and followers. But the true ripple effect of a life's work may never be measurable. You create something, share it with the world, and perhaps decades—or generations—later it inspires someone you've never met to begin their own journey.

Martin's work did that for me.
And I know it will do it for others.
Okay, Next Generation… the baton is being passed.

Pick it up.
Go explore.
Ask questions.
Document what you discover.
And leave something meaningful behind for those who come next.

Thank you, Martin, for the friendship, the inspiration and the extraordinary legacy.
— Robert Dakota

The QUEST continues…

09/04/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES • 2024 — JUST BEFORE EARTH ORIGINS
Sixteen years of conversations, expeditions, conferences and friendships—all centered around one enduring question:
How much of our human story have we forgotten?
In this 2024 conversation, I sit down with Alberto Hagar, an archaeologist working in the Yucatán and one of our guest speakers over the years, together with **Jack Metchikian**, to dive back into the mysteries of our ancient past.
We reflect on the extraordinary journey of events we've created over the previous 16 years —bringing together researchers, archaeologists, explorers, authors and independent thinkers willing to ask questions that often exist outside conventional boundaries.
Along the way, we've had the privilege of hosting Graham Hancock and a remarkable pantheon of alternative thinkers engaged in exploring the deeper mysteries surrounding ancient civilizations, human origins and the chapters of history that may still be waiting to be understood.
This interview was recorded in 2024, just before Earth Origins, at another fascinating point in that continuing journey.
Alberto brings the perspective of someone working amid the extraordinary archaeological landscape of the Yucatán, while Jack joins us in looking back—and forward—at the questions that have connected so many people through World ViewZ Media.
The answers continue to evolve.
The questions keep getting bigger.
And after all these years, the greatest adventure remains the same:
Go there. Explore. Document. Listen. Question.
🎥 Robert Dakota with Alberto Hagar & Jack Metchikian • 2024
The QUEST continues…
https://quest4ancients.com/

09/04/2026

FLASHBACK 2008 — DOCUMENTING RAPA NUI
There are places you visit—and there are places that permanently change the way you look at the ancient world.

In 2008, I had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Rapa Nui — Easter Island, Chile, documenting and filming one of the most remarkable archaeological landscapes on Earth.

One of the unforgettable locations was Rano Raraku, the volcanic crater and legendary quarry where the vast majority of Rapa Nui's iconic moai were carved.

For roughly 500 years, this landscape served as the great workshop of the moai builders. About 95% of the island's known monolithic statues were carved from stone originating here, and 887 moai remain at Rano Raraku in various stages and forms.

Walking through the quarry is like stepping into an ancient workshop frozen in time.

Some moai stand dramatically along the slopes. Others remain partially carved or embedded in the volcanic tuff. Everywhere you look are clues to the extraordinary vision, artistry and engineering of the people who created them.

Standing there with a camera in my hands in 2008, I kept thinking: How did they organize such an enormous undertaking—and what did these monumental figures mean to the people who created them?

Those are the experiences that ultimately inspired so much of what became Quest for Ancient Civilizations.

Go there.
Walk the landscape.
Document what remains.
Ask questions.
And never stop exploring.

🎥 Robert Dakota • Rapa Nui • 2008

The QUEST continues...

09/04/2026

2,000+ SACRED SITES. 160+ COUNTRIES. ONE EXTRAORDINARY LIFETIME OF EXPLORATION.

I first came to visit my friend Martin Gray in 2003, and his work has stayed with me ever since.

Martin has spent more than four decades traveling the planet, studying and photographing over 2,000 sacred and pilgrimage sites across more than 160 countries. His photography is extraordinary—this is a lifetime devoted to documenting some of humanity’s most fascinating sacred places.

I often describe Martin’s photography as National Geographic level.

If you love exploring ancient civilizations, sacred places, temples, pyramids, megaliths and pilgrimage sites—or simply want to explore the world from the palm of your hand—Martin’s World Pilgrimage Guide is a site you can disappear into for hours.

And now you can carry some of that journey with you.

📱Go to Martin’s website and download the FREE Sacred Sites Photo Gallery app, featuring 420 beautiful photographs from sacred sites around the world.
Explore https://sacredsites.com/ & get the free app

Pick a region. Choose a country. Discover a sacred place. Then experience it through Martin’s exquisite photography and research.

Martin’s life's work reminds me of something at the heart of our own Quest for Ancient Civilizations:

There is no substitute for going there, standing on the land and experiencing these extraordinary places for yourself.
Until then, put Martin’s extraordinary world in the palm of your hand.

The QUEST continues...
https://quest4ancients.com/

09/03/2026

WHEN ANCIENT WISDOM BECOMES ART
From the heart of Sedona’s Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, artist Honshin has created a body of work inspired by timeless symbols, spiritual traditions, nature, and echoes of the ancient world.

As the artist behind Honshin Fine Art — Gallery of Wholeness, Harmony and Radiance, his work invites us to look beyond the surface and consider something that sits at the heart of Quest for Ancient Civilizations:

What did the ancients understand about our relationship with the Earth, the cosmos, consciousness and one another?

Honshin shares his personal testimony and perspective on why Austin Quest for Ancient Civilizations is important — and why exploring the wisdom and creative expression of the past may help inspire the future.

Austin Quest for Ancient Civilizations
ACL Live at the Moody Theater • Austin, Texas
October 16–18, 2026

And when you're in Sedona, visit Honshin Fine Art Gallery at Tlaquepaque to experience Honshin’s work — along with the extraordinary one-of-a-kind creations of Austin Quest sponsor Kevin Petrilli, The Sedona Amulet Maker.

Ancient inspiration. Modern creation. A continuing QUEST.
https://quest4ancients.com

09/03/2026

FROM SEDONA TO AUSTIN — ART, ADVENTURE & THE QUEST
We’re grateful to have Kevin Petrilli of Sedona Amulets as one of the sponsors of Austin Quest for Ancient Civilizations.
Kevin has been creating extraordinary, one-of-a-kind amulets in Sedona for years — bringing together gemstones, precious metals, symbolism and his own distinctive artistic vision.
And if you want to experience Kevin’s pieces in person, there is one special destination:
Honshin Fine Art Gallery
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Sedona, Arizona
Kevin’s creations can be found there exclusively in person, including remarkable new works such as Orion’s Gateway.
We’re honored to have Kevin and Sedona Amulets supporting the journey from the red rocks of Sedona all the way to Austin Quest at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, October 16–18, 2026.
Explore Kevin’s work online at Sedona Amulets — and when you’re in Sedona, experience the pieces firsthand at Honshin Fine Art.
From Sedona to Austin, the QUEST continues...

09/03/2026

FLASHBACK 2022 | PREPARING FOR THE GRAND VISION
Back in Sedona in 2022, we were preparing for The Grand Vision with Randall Carlson, with our friend Graham Hancock joining us for a very special gathering.

Here, Randall and Graham speak about something that reaches far beyond any single event, discovery, book, or theory:

The importance of laying the groundwork for the next generation.

For decades, both have challenged us to look again at our past, question assumptions, examine the evidence, and remain open to possibilities that may reshape our understanding of human history.

But perhaps the greater legacy is inspiring the next generation to continue asking those questions.

To explore.

To investigate.

To challenge.

To discover.

And ultimately, to take the work further than any previous generation could.

Looking back at this conversation from 2022, the message feels just as important today.

We aren't only exploring the past. We're laying foundations for the future.

Randall Carlson & Graham Hancock in Sedona.

The QUEST continues...

09/03/2026

THE QUEST CONTINUES... EVEN AFTER THE QUEST After Sedona Quest for Ancient Civilizations, Dan Richards stuck around for a little extra local exploration.

First stop — Coin Heaven in Cottonwood, joining our friends there and spending some time discovering another side of the Verde Valley.

And while in Cottonwood, you can't forget the ancient world just down the road... Tuzigoot National Monument.

One of our regular Quest attendees, Larry, works at Tuzigoot and joined us for the adventure, giving us another opportunity to connect the people in our community with the remarkable history right here in our own backyard.

That's one of our favorite parts of these gatherings.
The presentations may end, but the conversations, friendships and exploration keep going.

Dan came for Sedona Quest — and stayed to experience a little more of what makes this area so special.

Ancient places. Local friends. Unexpected adventures.

The QUEST continues...

09/03/2026

SEEDS OF LIFE | CLiVE HUSTITO
A look back at our Spring Equinox “Seeds of Life” gathering from March 23, 2024 — an extraordinary day bringing together Pueblo messengers, traditional knowledge, ancient teachings and conversations about our connection to the cosmos.
Featuring Clive Hustito, Bertram Tsvadawa, Grandfather Malava, Ron Regehr and William Henry, the gathering explored the “Fields to Table” program and the deeper meaning of the Seeds of Life.
The Pueblo messengers shared their perspectives on the connections between the seeds, Kachinas, Star Beings and Plasma Beings, while William Henry joined us throughout the day for another memorable exchange of ideas and traditions.
The seeds themselves were honored and activated with songs and prayers before being given to attendees — bringing the conversation back to something tangible: the Earth, the seeds, and what we pass forward.
And if you watch this clip all the way to the end, listen carefully...
At exactly 44:44, just as we're closing, an enormous roll of THUNDER arrives. ⚡
Perfect timing? Synchronicity?
We'll let you decide.
Turn up the sound and make it to 44:44.
Seeds of Life
Spring Equinox 2024
Pueblo Messengers + William Henry
The QUEST continues...
https://youtu.be/cqUFR_XyNy0?si=BodFdnHAmY92Kvv3

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/462727? On-demand Replay Spring Equinox...