About

Laura Shackelford is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on paleoanthropology, particularly the evolution of Homo sapiens, with a geographic emphasis on Southeast Asia. She co-directs ongoing field research in northern Laos, where her team has recovered early modern human remains dating back 70,000 years at Tam Pà Ling, Laos. Her team has also found the first evidence of the Denisovan population in Southeast Asia at Cobra Cave, Laos. In addition to her archaeological work, Shackelford explores virtual reality and educational technology to make human prehistory and archaeological field work accessible to more students. She splits her time between Anthropology and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, where she is the Director of Anatomy, teaching human anatomy to medical students and working on research related to clinical and anatomical questions.

Research topics

• Geology
• Archaeology
• Paleontology
• Geography
• Ecology
• Biology
• History
• Endocrinology
• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Ethnology

Selected publications

• Bridging Anatomy Curricular Gaps: Leveraging Student‐Created Video Resources in Elective Courses

  Clinical Anatomy · 2026-04-10

  articleOpen access

  Traditional anatomical donor-based dissection has long served as the cornerstone of anatomical education. However, with increasingly condensed curricula and diverse student learning preferences, multimedia tools have become vital adjuncts to support engagement, comprehension, and accessibility. At the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED), we developed a student-led educational module combining cadaveric dissection, a step-by-step dissection guide, and a virtual reality (VR) video to teach the muscles of facial expression. A human anatomical donor facial dissection was performed and documented to develop a comprehensive, three-part dissection guide covering muscular anatomy, dissection steps, and clinical correlations. An accompanying VR video was created using the Meta Quest two headset and 3D Organon XR, featuring animated muscle movements and cultural references (e.g., Spider-Man, Mrs. Doubtfire) to reinforce anatomical concepts. Fifty-two medical students viewed the VR video and completed an anonymous Likert scale survey assessing clarity, engagement, educational value, and technical performance. Survey responses were highly favorable across all categories. Students rated the video highly for explaining muscle function (mean = 4.37), maintaining engagement (4.42), and enhancing understanding through visual quality (4.27). Cultural references were particularly well received (4.46), with 86.5% agreeing they enhanced educational value. The VR experience was considered technically smooth (4.23) and effective as a supplement to anatomical donor dissection (4.29). Qualitative feedback indicated strong interest in expanding VR modules to cover musculoskeletal and vascular anatomy, sports medicine, and clinically integrated case scenarios. This study supports the pedagogical value of integrating VR and cinematic references into anatomy education. The module successfully reinforced student understanding of facial anatomy while enhancing engagement and motivation. As a student-created resource, it also illustrates the value of learner-driven content development in addressing curricular gaps and promoting active learning. Student-developed VR modules are a promising complement to traditional anatomy education. Future efforts aim to expand VR video production to additional anatomical regions beyond the face and incorporate VR-based clinical case assessments to support deeper learning and knowledge integration.

  PublisherDOI

• Omental and Mesenteric Abnormalities in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Cadaver Case Report and Literature Review

  2024-10-04

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  BackgroundPathologies in the abdomen have the ability to spread across several organs due to the central location and high connectedness to lymphatic and vascular networks.Recently, it has been suggested that the greater omentum plays a role in containing these pathologies and limiting their spread through the gastrointestinal tract and to other organs.However, it is not fully understood how this occurs and the limitations of the omentum. Case DescriptionThis case described the abdominal dissection of an 80-year-old Caucasian female with a reported cause of death of ventricular arrhythmia who was found to have significant rectal stenosis, omental adhesions, a transverse colon to bladder fistula, and numerous diffuse nodules across the mesenteric and omental space.Microscopic evaluation of the greater omentum and mesentery revealed peritoneal carcinomatosis.This result is consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma, and the gross abnormalities observed in the colon suggest that colon cancer was likely the primary location. DiscussionThis case demonstrates possible pathological changes in the omentum and mesentery associated with the spread of malignancy in these structures.The omentum has been suggested to contain the disease and limit its spread to other regions of the abdomen.Our case strengthens this understanding through the spread of nodules and fibrotic changes in the omentum with limited invasion into other sections of the colon or organs in the abdomen. Clinical SignificanceThis case demonstrates both the role of the omentum and suggests possible symptoms related to abdominal pathologies, including injury, infection, and malignancy.Further research regarding the omentum in the setting of inflammation and disease should involve improved diagnostic ability of abdominal imaging to identify noninvasive indicators of pathology.This will allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment of pathologies that can be applied to improving a patient's quality of life.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Reconstructing the environmental conditions experienced by early modern humans at Tam Pà Ling (northeast Laos) using higher plant wax biomarkers

  Quaternary Science Reviews · 2024-01-12 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access

  The sediments of Tam Pà Ling (TPL), northeastern Laos, have yielded the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in mainland Southeast Asia (∼86 ka; marine isotope stage (MIS) 5 b) with a number of skeletal elements having been recovered from the sequence attesting to two populations of H. sapiens present in the vicinity between 77 ± 9 ka to 39 ± 9 ka. At present there has been very limited research into the environmental conditions that these populations encountered during MIS 5–4. In this study, we present the results of an analysis of higher plant biomarkers (n-alkanes and n-alkanols) from the sediments at TPL to reconstruct the palaeovegetation of the site and the human fossils. The n-alkane δ13C values demonstrate that H. sapiens encountered a predominantly C3 forest landscape in MIS 5 b-MIS 4 that prevailed until MIS 1. Observations of a fluctuation in δ13C values across MIS 5 b-MIS 1 (∼86–3 ka) indicates that moisture availability was non-uniform, most likely resulting in landscape changes in and around TPL. The presence of H. sapiens at TPL during the environmental conditions associated with MIS 5 b-MIS 3 highlights the adaptability of our species to environmental dynamics at this time.

  PublisherDOI

• Vertically Integrating E-portfolios and Cooperative Educational Experiences to Develop Students’ Entrepreneurial Mindset

  2024-02-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  He is a 2021 KEEN Engineering Unleashed Fellow who enjoys building technological systems and sharing his enjoyment with others by developing and delivering educational experiences

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia by 86–68 kyr at Tam Pà Ling, Northern Laos

  Nature Communications · 2023-06-13 · 86 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  The timing of the first arrival of Homo sapiens in East Asia from Africa and the degree to which they interbred with or replaced local archaic populations is controversial. Previous discoveries from Tam Pà Ling cave (Laos) identified H. sapiens in Southeast Asia by at least 46 kyr. We report on a recently discovered frontal bone (TPL 6) and tibial fragment (TPL 7) found in the deepest layers of TPL. Bayesian modeling of luminescence dating of sediments and U-series and combined U-series-ESR dating of mammalian teeth reveals a depositional sequence spanning ~86 kyr. TPL 6 confirms the presence of H. sapiens by 70 ± 3 kyr, and TPL 7 extends this range to 77 ± 9 kyr, supporting an early dispersal of H. sapiens into Southeast Asia. Geometric morphometric analyses of TPL 6 suggest descent from a gracile immigrant population rather than evolution from or admixture with local archaic populations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Early presence of Homo sapiens by 86-68 kyrs in Southeast Asia at Tam Pà Ling cave, Northern Laos.

  Research Square · 2023-01-16

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract The timing of the first arrival of Homo sapiens in East Asia from Africa and the degree to which they interbred with or replaced local archaic populations is controversial. Previous discoveries from Tam Pà Ling cave (Laos) identified H. sapiens in Southeast Asia by 46 kyr. We report on a new frontal bone (TPL 6) and slightly older tibial fragment (TPL 7) discovered in the deepest layers of TPL. Bayesian modeling of luminescence dating of sediments and U-series and combined U-series-ESR dating of mammalian teeth reveals a depositional sequence spanning ~ 86 kyr. TPL 6 confirms the presence of H. sapiens by 70 ± 3 kyr, and TPL 7 extends this range to 77 ± 9 kyr, supporting an early dispersal of H. sapiens into Southeast Asia. Geometric morphometric analyses of TPL 6 suggest descent from a gracile immigrant population rather than evolution from or admixture with local archaic populations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Gathering Stories: Creating Spaces for Young Women to Connect and Build Community through Multimodal Storytelling

  Social Sciences · 2023-08-31 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Digital storytelling prioritizes real-time connections, story creation, contextual adaptability, multi-media expression, and accessibility. This article discusses the unrecognized affordances and value of digital storytelling practices for teens living in precarious (neo)colonial lifeworlds. We review the workshop methods developed as designers and leaders of “Gathering Stories: A Digital Storytelling Workshop for Young Women” in July 2021 to enliven and illuminate high school students’ voices while also addressing social, emotional, and affective experiences and needs during the pandemic. The article details how we co-realized spaces where teens’ lived experience of gathering and the draw of story were the driving forces for their diverse storytelling practices. Identifying positive outcomes for the first iteration of the workshop, we also identify challenges that will inform future iterations of the workshop, such as structural dimensions of intersectionality and the challenges predicative AI such as ChatGPT poses to such efforts to prioritize experiential dimensions of learning through storytelling.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Palaeoenvironments and hominin evolutionary dynamics in southeast Asia

  Scientific Reports · 2023-09-27 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access

  Secure environmental contexts are crucial for hominin interpretation and comparison. The discovery of a Denisovan individual and associated fauna at Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra) Cave, Laos, dating back to 164-131 ka, allows for environmental comparisons between this (sub)tropical site and the Palearctic Denisovan sites of Denisova Cave (Russia) and Baishiya Karst Cave (China). Denisovans from northern latitudes foraged in a mix of forested and open landscapes, including tundra and steppe. Using stable isotope values from the Cobra Cave assemblage, we demonstrate that, despite the presence of nearby canopy forests, the Denisovan individual from Cobra Cave primarily consumed plants and/or animals from open forests and savannah. Using faunal evidence and proxy indicators of climates, results herein highlight a local expansion of rainforest at ~ 130 ka, raising questions about how Denisovans responded to this local climate change. Comparing the diet and habitat of the archaic hominin from Cobra Cave with those of early Homo sapiens from Tam Pà Ling Cave (46-43 ka), Laos, it appears that only our species was able to exploit rainforest resources.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Climate changes, environments and dynamics of human evolution in southeast Asia: From Denisovans to Homo sapiens

  HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 2022-11-06

  article

  International audience

  Publisher

• Supplement Table 3 from Geographically diverse canid sampling provides novel insights into pre-industrial microbiomes

  Figshare · 2022-01-01

  datasetOpen access

  Additional metadata for samples in this study

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• EXP: Social Science Education through Virtual Reality Simulation of an Archaeological Research Site

  NSF · $526k · 2017–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Fabrice Demeter

  University of Copenhagen

  74 shared

• Philippe Duringer

  Université de Strasbourg

  56 shared

• Anne‐Marie Bacon

  Australian National University

  30 shared

• Jean‐Luc Ponche

  Université de Strasbourg

  30 shared

• Pierre‐Olivier Antoine

  Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier

  28 shared

• Élise Patole-Edoumba

  Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

  28 shared

• Anne-Marie Bacon

  26 shared

• Kira Westaway

  Macquarie University

  25 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Anthropology

  Washington University

  2005

• M.A., Anthropology

  Washington University

  2001

• B.S., Biological Anthropology and Anatomy

  Duke University

  1998

Awards & honors

• Hewlett Foundation International Research Grant (2011)
• UIUC Research Board. Pleistocene human evolution in mainland…
• UIUC Research Board. Paleoanthropology in mainland Southeast…
• Lambda Alpha Research Grant (2003)
• AMNH Collection Study Grant (2003)