Our beloved colleague and friend Jim Skibo passed away on April 14, 2023, doing what he loved: diving in the long-term pursuit of ancient archaeological knowledge.
A Distinguished Professor, former chairperson of Anthropology and Sociology, former interim chairperson of English, and member of the Native American Studies faculty, Jim retired from Illinois State University in July 2018 after more than 25 years on faculty.
In 2021, the Wisconsin Historical Society welcomed James M. Skibo to the organization in the role of Wisconsin State Archaeologist.
He will be remembered for his good humor, great smile, humility, generosity toward fellow scholars and students, and leadership as a champion of the liberal arts.
These pages are dedicated to his work and life. He is greatly missed.
The Wisconsin Historical Society Work
Between 2021 and 2023, Jim was involved in one of the most exciting and momentous archaeological excavations in North America in the modern era.
HISTORIC MOMENT: 1,200 Year-Old Dugout Canoe Recovered from Lake Mendota
The Lake Mendota Dugout Canoe Discovery | University Place
1,200-Year-Old Dugout Canoe Recovered from Lake Mendota in Memory
August 3, 2022 Guest Speaker James Skibo on Mendota DugOut Canoe
The Grand Island Archaeological Research Project
Initiated in 2001, the project is a cooperative between Illinois State University and the Hiawatha National Forest. The Grand Island Archaeological Project has several objectives. First, the Illinois State University and Forest Service archaeologists are involved in Phase III, or interpretive level, investigation of sites that cover the entire human history of Grand Island. Our goal is to understand the specific activities of the people who lived and used the resources of the island.
Honoring James’s extraordinary life and legacy
Skibo Scholars
The Skibo Scholars is to support first-generation college students and underrepresented students with an interest in anthropology or sociology by building community, creating a sense of belonging, and empowering them with the skills, tools, and connections to flourish in the pursuit of their dreams at Illinois State.
Paying tribute to illustrious Dr. Skibo
We invite you to read the tributes that Dr. Skibo’s family and colleagues have made public since his death and invite Jim’s colleagues at Illinois State University to contribute their own memories by contacting us here.
News and Articles
Honoring Dr. Jim Skibo, envisioning the new Skibo Scholars Scholarship
The Redbird community has come together to celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. James Skibo—a respected educator, scholar, and visionary whose influence runs deep.
Remembering Distinguished Professor Emeritus Jim Skibo
A tribute to Distinguished Professor Emeritus Jim Skibo, written by former colleague Joan Brehm, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology.
Dr. Skibo’s Work
- 3,000-year-old dugout canoe recovered from Lake Mendota
- Luck strikes twice as another ancient canoe is pulled from lake Mendota’s depths
- 3,000-year-old canoe recovered from lake: ‘Truly incredible’
- How a 1,200-year-old canoe found in Wisconsin’s Lake Mendota last summer is serving as a bridge for tribal relations
- The Mendota canoes: connecting past and present