Dr. David West Reynolds, an archaeologist, has spent two decades retracing the journey taken by the iconic fictional character Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” He has traveled the world to rediscover the long-lost sets and locations where the 1981 blockbuster was filmed. Despite some criticism from academics about the film’s portrayal of archaeology, Reynolds believes that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is surprisingly accurate and respectful of history. He is now raising funds for a documentary titled “Chasing Raiders” to showcase the real-life history and archaeology behind the film.
Reynolds’ journey to create the documentary began during his PhD studies when he decided to track down the desert locations where the original “Star Wars” movie was filmed in North Africa. Despite limited resources, he was able to locate the lost sites and published his findings in a Star Wars magazine. His work caught the attention of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, who hired Reynolds as a location scout for the prequels. This led to a successful collaboration that resulted in Reynolds working on a series of Star Wars reference books.
During his time working on Skywalker Ranch, Reynolds got to handle props from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and was impressed by their quality and accuracy. He discovered that many of the props, such as the headpiece to the Staff of Ra, were meticulously researched and historically authentic. The film incorporated real ancient history and archaeology, with the ark, idols, and set pieces all reflecting accurate details from various historical and archaeological sources. Reynolds was intrigued by these connections and wanted to explore the real-life locations where Indiana Jones had his adventures.
To uncover the long-lost film sites, Reynolds traveled to Hawaii, Africa, and Peru, retracing Indiana Jones’ footsteps from the movie. He explored the locations where key scenes were filmed, including the mountain where the Paramount logo dissolves into at the film’s opening and the ruins of original set pieces inscribed with hieroglyphics. Reynolds also visited temples and historical sites that inspired the movie’s locations in Egypt and Peru. Throughout his travels, he always carried a bullwhip, which he had learned to use as a skill and a means of gaining acceptance in different communities.
Reynolds’ use of a bullwhip on his travels proved to be surprisingly useful, defusing potential conflicts and gaining the respect of locals. His adventures in real-life situations mirrored scenes from the Indiana Jones movies, including using the whip to escape a tight spot in a Tunisian town similar to a scene from the first film. Reynolds has collected years of artifacts, research, and stories from his travels, which he intends to share in his documentary, “Chasing Raiders.” Through the documentary, he aims to reveal the surprising real-life history and archaeology behind Indiana Jones while highlighting the film’s respect for history and archaeology, which is unusual for Hollywood.
The documentary will showcase the accuracy and attention to detail in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” emphasizing what the film got right in terms of historical and archaeological authenticity. Reynolds hopes to challenge misconceptions about the film’s portrayal of archaeology and highlight its positive aspects. By sharing his adventures and discoveries, Reynolds aims to provide a unique behind-the-scenes look at the real-life history behind the beloved Hollywood blockbuster and shed light on the connections between fiction and reality in the world of Indiana Jones.
