Paul Shackel

About the Author

Paul Shackel is a distinguished archaeologist and historian whose work illuminates the intersections of race, labor, and memory in American history. A professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he has dedicated his career to excavating forgotten narratives through meticulous fieldwork and interdisciplinary analysis. Shackel's research often focuses on sites that reveal the complexities of racial dynamics in the Midwest, challenging conventional historical accounts with evidence from the ground. His influential book, New Philadelphia: An Archaeology of Race in the Heartland, chronicles the groundbreaking excavation of America's first town planned by a free Black man, offering profound insights into resilience and erasure in the nation's past. Through his scholarship, Shackel bridges academia and public engagement, fostering a deeper understanding of how archaeology can confront and commemorate marginalized histories.