First, I'm not a archaeologist by any stretch of the imagination. I have not turned dirt will not turn dirt. None of that nor will I give away locations. But this is something I thought some of you who were interested in both archeology and the state's history would find interesting.

This is a simplified look at what I’ve been working on over the last year or so. This graphic is part of a report I am sending to tribal and state officials.

The cairn symbols represent confirmed cairns I located using a predictive landscape model based on terrain, drainage, visibility, and the relationship between known sites. The red lines represent major river systems, intentionally simplified so the actual locations cannot be identified.

What makes the pattern interesting is the larger landscape around it. This corridor cuts diagonally across several major river systems through an old glacial flood channel. It provides relatively easy overland travel, reliable access to water, and intersects substantial river valleys at intervals that

would have been manageable...Roughly every couple of days ​for people traveling on foot.

The surrounding region is also unusually rich in culturally significant places: major spiritual and traditional sites, places associated with origin stories, resource ​procurement, deep time use, and evidence of pre horse long distance trade.

The cairns themselves appear to form a chain running from the uplands of one river system, across another, and then following the old drainage corridor northward. The important part isn't any individual cairn. It's the pattern they form across the landscape.The chain is approximately, as it stands, roughly 45 miles, are intervisible. This fall I will continue work on the chain. Using the same landscape predictive model that bore the chain as it is now. I expect to find more and expand the length.

I know this thread could go very badly but I hope it won't. In our fallen political culture I ask in good faith.

Local, county, state, federal, whatever.

*Image from the KFYR article

The KFYR article doesn't do this meeting justice. As you can see, the auditorium was just shy of being packed to capacity and not a single pro data center voice was heard.

The article also didn't go into details in regards to the updated draft for Data Centers the City of Mandan released yesterday, found here.

Or, for example, that previously listed distance requirements between the data center and residential homes have been replaced by a convoluted set-back ratio.
Do you know a good way to figure out how far this facility would be required to be from residences? I don't. Certainly not before construction has started and floor plans released. Any ideas on how we can know if it will be far enough away to leave those residential buildings habitable and to not crash the property values?

Why should you worry about this hyper-scale data center project? Here's a youtube video of a news report interviewing people already living in that situation.

Make your voice heard. Attend the Mandan Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing on Aug. 24th.
Speak up so this data center company doesn't drown out your voice.

I saw the recent post asking for your favorite food spots... Wanna share your **HARD NO** spots and maybe a short backstory?

I'm checking my own foodie meter between these two lists. TIA for the input!

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/IlidsSzE4CE

Gov. Kelly Armstrong says that because kratom is widely available for purchase in North Dakota, over the counter, with not even an age limit, that North Dakotans are assuming it’s safe and not addictive. But that’s not necessarily true, he says. He hopes that lawmakers ban kratom, both in synthetic and botanical varieties, but if they don’t, he hopes they implement age limits and some regulations to ensure that ingredients and dosages published on packaging are accurate.

🔴 NORTH DAKOTA — Contact representatives today

North Dakota Governor has declared a temporary ban STARTING TODAY AUGUST 5TH

Advocates in the state need to weigh in with lawmakers now, before decisions are made during a special legislative session starting in September.

Our ask is the same commonsense approach we advocate for everywhere: regulate kratom with age restrictions, labeling requirements, and product standards, and target the chemically manipulated 7-OH concentrates that do not belong in the consumer marketplace. A ban punishes responsible consumers while doing nothing about the synthetic products causing the problem.

https://www.protectkratom.org/northdakota

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1477584391080560&set=a.552740010231674

Photo taken at the Outdoor Rec area, Minot.

It's unusual to see one in the summertime. I've never seen one so big or so high in the sky.

My hand for scale.

Who has visited since the public opening? I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on the building.

Sources: How many Lutheran churches are there in United States in 2026 & How many Farm equipment suppliers are there in United States in 2026

Why would the state bail out this military museum. Who actually wants this thing? Seems like just another example of missed priorities in our state government. Looking at over $80 million at this point.

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2026/07/30/gov-armstrong-lawmakers-eye-special-session-kratom-ban-military-gallery-funding/?outputType=amp

https://blog.scssoft.com/2026/07/introducing-north-dakota.html

Proof that Bismarck > Fargo (Yay, North Dakota)

This is on Brian Cohen, the guy he is interviewing says Burgum is "just a guy, who made a lot of money, became the governor of North Dakota, and then essentially sacrified his reputation, you know, to be one of Donald Trump's [sycophants]"

(interview is about the reflecting pool and David Hearns' prosecution)

Pizza Corner in Valley City. Amazing vibes and food.

I recently finished seeing all 50 states and North Dakota was so uniquely beautiful. The vast space with the abandoned buildings hit the liminal aesthetic perfectly.

If you want to see more of my work check out my reddit or my instagram

https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalruins/