Jean-Baptiste Fourvel

Jean-Baptiste is a palaeontologist and taphonomist, senior researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) based at the Laboratoire LAMPEA (UMR 7269) in Aix-en-Provence, France. For over 10 years now, Jean-Baptiste has conducted extensive field research on modern and fossil faunal communities in Europe (France, Poland) and especially on the African continent (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti) as part of various international research projects.

Since he defended his PhD on predation and consumption behaviors in modern and fossil hyenas at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, Jean-Baptiste has continued to develop his research into the characterisation of subsistence behaviors on human and non-human predators (mainly canids, felids and hyenids). Through the analyses of Quaternary bone assemblages (~2.5Myr-present) from Europe and Africa, his work addresses the role of predation and competitive pressure between humans and carnivores and their fundamental role in the evolution of the palaeoecological status of Hominins (gradually moving from opportunistic predator and prey to primary predators).

Although Jean-Baptiste’s main area of study is the bone remains (and more specifically the bone debris) resulting from consumption by fossil predators, he is also very interested in the behaviour of present-day carnivores. Believing that the key to the behaviour of extinct species lies in the study of present-day species, he seeks to observe modern animal behaviours via a more eco-ethological approach, tracking them through their footprints and exploring their dens in search of the remains of their prey.

In his own words

What do you like about being in the field in Turkana? 
“I would say first that I really love being out in the field! For sure I love looking for fossil bones, but also, and perhaps above all, I just enjoy the desert landscape, which gives me a real feeling of freedom and well-being…”

What do you miss when you are in the field?
“sharing my experience with those closest to me, especially my daughter…and I hope that one day she will join me!”

How would you describe your role in the WTAP team?
“I try to get the animal bones to talk, to tell a story! What they have literally experienced, from the death of the animal until their discovery in the field.”

For more information about Jean-Baptiste’s research or to contact him directly, please visit his page on Researchgate