I spelled his name wrong, actually, it's:
ALEX CHIONETTI
48 years old.
Born in Argentina.
Moved to Red Bank in 2001.
Returned from March expedition to the caves of Tayos in Ecuador.
Has written freelance articles about other expeditions to the Caves of Tayos; was given artifacts and documents by the late explorer Juan Moricz.
Former executive producer and Los Angeles resident.
Featured in Sci-Fi channel "Quest for Atlantis" documentary for his research and theories. 
Chionetti holds a spear he says struck him as he fled from the natives who control the region.
Red Bank writer-explorer has tale to tell on film
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/21/07
BY LARRY HIGGS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
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RED BANK — Alex Chionetti doesn't look like Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeologist and adventurer, but Chionetti's experiences, in his quest to explore the ancient Caves of Tayos in Ecuador, could rival the movie character's adventures.
Home after a March expedition, Chionetti is tired from literally running for miles as his expedition fled for their lives, finally leaving behind any extra clothing, gear and a camera so they could outrun their pursuers.
Chionetti, 48, went to Ecuador to document the caves and the civilization that lived in them, and to find clues to a library of ancient writings and scripture thought to be in the caves.
Chionetti, who has participated in a Sci-Fi cable channel documentary about Atlantis and written articles about other expeditions to Ecuador, has collected information about the Ecuadoran caves. He continues the work done by Scottish explorer Stanley Hall, who led the largest expedition to the caves in 1976 with astronaut Neil Armstrong, and Juan Moricz, an Argentinian-Hungarian who explored the caves in 1969.
"The quest for the caves is part of my life," said Chionetti, who grew up in Argentina, moved to Red Bank in 2001 and makes his living doing freelance writing and production work. "The caves are the (Mount) Everest of archaeology. Now, they are forbidden (by local tribes to be visited), and it almost cost me my life."
The caves bear evidence of an ancient civilization that once lived there. There are writings on the cave walls of unknown age, and Chionetti produced photos he took of doorways and arches built inside the caves.
"We calculate it's 12,000 years old. The stones (in arches and doorways) are a perfect fit," he said.
The caves also contain formations of gold, and they are home to the Tayos bird, which is about the size of a falcon. The bird is revered by the native tribes, and navigates by sonar, similar to a bat, he said.
Because of oil drilling and mining in the region, the Shuars (a native tribe formerly known as the Jivaros) don't trust Americans or Canadians, and restrict access to the caves, he said. The Shuars have been known historically for their custom of head-hunting.
"The word I'm associating with Alex is tenacity," Hall said in a telephone interview Friday from Scotland. "He was determined to get some film. Hats off to him."
Chionetti interviewed Hall about his expedition for magazine articles and started gathering information from him for his own expedition, Hall said.
He also interviewed Moricz before his death in 1999 and decided to mount an expedition in his memory, Chionetti said.
His fascination with the caves and ancient civilizations prompted him to go from interviewer to explorer. Hall warned him of the pitfalls.
"I talked with him long about the many difficulties he'd face — and he'd come to realize I was right — on the dangerous and difficult people he'd have to deal with," Hall said.
Hall said he was concerned because he hadn't heard from Chionetti since receiving a letter he wrote during the March expedition.
"He did get in trouble, wrote to me and told me he was being chased out of the area," Hall said. "It's more than a tourist visa and a trip."
Chionetti's first expedition, in October, failed to reach the main entrance to the caves. The most recent, in March, was done with training and help from the Ecuadorian Air Force Intervention and Rescue team, said Chionetti, who financed his expeditions himself with some help from Argentinian television.
The caves, which are thought to be a little over two miles long, are located in the Coangos River area, and his expedition forced him to cross that and two other rivers, the Mongosa and Santego. He had to negotiate with various political factions that control the territories the expedition had to pass through and with the Shuars, who control the area at the mouth of the caves.
To access the caves, the expedition of six people had to set up a tripod to lower people straight down in the cave about 100 meters, or more than 300 feet.
"It is the most fantastic experience to desend into Mother Earth," Chionetti said.
Two Indian guides were left to protect the climbing apparatus from the Shuars.
"The fear is they'll cut the ropes," Chionetti said. "If they cut the ropes, you're gone. There are supposed to be two entrances, one which goes to the river, but no one has found it."
Chionetti took photos and shot film for a documentary he hopes to make. He wanted to stay longer, but the Ecuadorian members of his team got word that the Shuars had a dispute with one of the guides and that their lives were in danger.
The expedition had to move quickly to stay ahead of the Shuars, and they bargained with local officials for passage along the way, trading flashlights and a generator.
Finally making it to the river, the expedition hid in the home of Christian missionary overnight.
"The lady said, "Very bad people are looking for you and want to take your life,' " Chionetti said. "She said, "You remain here, and we'll cross you the next day.' "
No one slept that night; all kept watch, he said.
"I prayed," Chionetti said.
They left at 5 a.m. and crossed the river by means of a basket pulled to the other side with ropes. On the shore, they found the remains of a Shuar encampment, he said.
"If we'd been walking faster and come there hours earlier, we'd be history," Chionetti said.
After cutting the rope, they heard gunshots. They began a marathon race for their lives until they got back to town, where transportation was supposed to be waiting, he said. Because they were late, however, it was gone and they took the bus, riding for three hours to safety, he said.
"I lost one of the tapes that I recorded in the cave," Chionetti said.
Now Chionetti is doing editing and post-production on the documentary, but hopes to negotiate with a network or a show to help with the work. He is working various jobs to finance the project.
Despite the run for his life, Chionetti said he hopes to return to the caves.
"I've gotten a lot of gray hairs in the past six months," he said. "I've got another clue of the real location of the lost library. I'm going back."
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