Dr. Natalia Shislina | Wool Fiber | Innovative Research Award 

Dr. Natalia Shislina | Wool Fiber | Principal investigator at State Historical Museum | Russia

Dr. Natalia Shishlina is a renowned archaeologist specializing in Bronze Age Eurasian steppe cultures, prehistoric pastoralist societies, and the genetic and material analysis of ancient populations. She earned her Dr. Habilitate in Archaeology from State Moscow University and has since served as Principal Investigator at the State Historical Museum, Moscow, leading extensive archaeological excavations and interdisciplinary research projects. Dr. Shishlina’s professional experience includes in-depth analyses of textiles, metal artifacts, burial complexes, and faunal remains, integrating isotopic, radiocarbon, and archaeometric techniques to reconstruct past human-environment interactions. Her research interests focus on the genetic origins of Indo-Europeans, seasonal mobility of Bronze Age pastoralists, and the technological and economic strategies of ancient societies. She possesses advanced research skills including mass spectrometry, isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, GIS-based spatial analysis, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction, enabling comprehensive studies of cultural, biological, and environmental data. Dr. Shishlina has contributed more than forty high-impact publications, including in journals such as Nature, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, and Quaternary International, garnering significant citations that demonstrate her global research influence. Her awards and honors recognize her contributions to archaeological science and her leadership in large-scale, international collaborative projects. Dr. Shishlina also actively engages in mentoring early-career researchers and participates in peer review for leading journals, further promoting excellence in the field. Her strengths lie in the integration of cutting-edge analytical techniques with traditional archaeological research, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship. Areas for future growth include expanding public outreach and digital archaeology initiatives to enhance accessibility of research findings. Dr. Shishlina’s career demonstrates outstanding dedication, innovation, and scholarly leadership, establishing her as a leading authority in prehistoric archaeology and a strong candidate for international academic recognition.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications 

1. Shishlina, N. (2025). The genetic origin of the Indo-Europeans. Nature. [Citations: 52]

2. Shishlina, N. (2025). Dwellings of Eurasian Mobile Pastoralists: Archaeology, Ethnography, History Painting and Graphics. Ufa Archaeological Herald. [Citations: 15]

3. Shishlina, N. (2024). Fatty and amino acid composition of archaeological wool textile: A study using gas chromatography with mass-spectrometrys. Аналитика и контроль. [Citations: 9]

4. Shishlina, N. (2024). Seasonal campsites of the Sal Steppes: Identification of cultural layers and economic strategy. Ural Historical Journal. [Citations: 12]

5. Shishlina, N. (2023). Burial complexes of the Catacomb culture: To the 20th anniversary of the work of the Steppe Archaeological Expedition. RUDN Journal of World History. [Citations: 8]

6. Shishlina, N. (2022). Stone artifacts of the Bronze Age: Analysis of the mineral composition and determination of resource ranges. Nanobiotechnology Reports. [Citations: 7]

7. Shishlina, N. (2018). Seasonal practices of prehistoric pastoralists from the south of the Russian plain based on the isotope data of modern and archaeological animal bones and plants. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. [Citations: 22]