Distinctly Montana Magazine

72 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 5 "I think it's called the Sage Wall in Montana," Rogan said to outdoorsman and guest Cameron Haines. "... These immense stones that look like they were placed there, who knows how long. And there's people arguing, oh, this is like natural." Rogan went on to repeat a rumor that the wall extended underground, like the Easter Island heads. As Rogan's producer pulled up a photo of the wall online, Rogan pointed at it. "Whoa. What the [expletive] is that, dude?" His guest, apparently not too interested in the secret history of mankind, responded to Rogan's enthusiastic ideas with only slightly less verve: "Yeah, man, that's nuts." Eventually, Rogan moved on to discussion of the "ostrich feet people" of Africa. Rogan's mention of the Sage Wall wasn't the first time the enig- matic structure was speculated to be man-made, but it gave the Sage Wall its biggest platform yet. Thousands of people rushed to their devices to Google it for themselves. Like seemingly ev- erything now, they had to take their results with a grain or few of salt, as one of the images the search returns shows a tiny little human hiker dwarfed by an enormous, clearly constructed wall. No doubt, since the time of this writing, there are new AI-gener- ated images of gargantuan walls out there to confuse and muddy the metaphorical waters. Who am I to refute such august public intellectuals as Joe Rogan and Keanu Reeves? I had to see it for myself. In truth, despite what may seem like a slight tone of sarcasm seep- ing into this article, I have to admit to being at least a little par- tial to Hancock's ideas. Like so many, I read his books, which are mind-bending regardless of their factual accuracy, at a young age (he's been publishing for more than thirty years now), when his books would occupy a shelf on my shelf next to Erich Von Dan- iken and Zechariah Stitchen. Hancock's ideas, which seemed so intellectually swashbuckling, were certainly alluring. They are also not entirely without merit, if you carry to their con- clusion the ideas of astrophysicist Adam Frank and climate sci- entist Gavin Schmidt, the authors of a peer-reviewed scientific paper on what they called the Silurian hypothesis, named after the lizard-alien race from the UK's Doctor Who. If such a race, human or otherwise, of advanced technological and scientific knowledge has previously inhabited the earth, how would we Featuring 35 dealers and 10,000 square feet of traditional and eclectic antiques. Offering an excellent selection of antiques, jewelry, clothing, glassware, collectibles, furniture, art, bottles, books, vintage items and much more! Antiques Interiors open summer 11 am - 5 pm seven days a week Memorial day - labor day open rest of year 11 am - 5 pm thursday - monday BLACK DOG ANTIQUES 1200 E. Park Avenue Anaconda, MT 406-563-0478 blackdogantique.com o f BEST M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F 2023-25 Y E A R S WO N & Fall leaves, cozy snuggles and a long soak... "Blue Sky" is the perfect escape located in a private location Breathtaking views of mountains and abundant wild life special touches always included 32 blue sky lane red lodge, montana 406.425.0079 www.blueskycabins.com look for us on facebook

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