MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) - The reconstruction of Mandan’s Memorial Highway has more at stake than just digging up dirt or fixing a road.

With all of Mandan built on the land of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, there is a possibility for crews to find native artifacts or human remains while digging up the ground. Because of this, an archaeologist is placed on-site to monitor the construction in case anything is found.

“We kind of have to toe the line of, ‘okay, how realistic is it’ versus, this is an important area, and it was important for a very long time. So, you want to make sure that anything that could come up is treated properly and respectfully,” said North Dakota Department of Transportation State Archaeologist Reilly Lembo.

The monitoring archaeologist will be on-site wheneve

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