11th ICAZ AGPM Working Group Meeting

Dr. Jean-Denis Vigne is a prominent French researcher specializing in archaeozoology and the study of early interactions between human and non-human animals. He is affiliated with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. Vigne's academic background includes studying natural sciences and paleontology at the University of Paris and archaeology in the field.

His primary research focus is on the eco-archaeological approach to interactions between biodiversity and human societies, with a particular emphasis on early domestication and farming. Vigne has made significant contributions to understanding the Neolithic transition and the origins of animal domestication, especially in the Near East and Cyprus.

Vigne has been involved in several important studies, including research on the genetic origins of domestic cattle. In a 2012 study, he and his colleagues used DNA analysis to trace modern cattle back to a small herd of about 80 animals domesticated around 10,500 years ago in the Near East. This work demonstrated the power of combining genetic analysis with archaeological evidence to answer questions about early domestication processes.

As a bio-archaeologist, Vigne advocates for an integrative, systemic approach to studying early domestication and farming. He emphasizes the importance of considering both biological and ecological factors alongside anthropological dynamics, including technical, social, and cultural aspects of human societies. His research has contributed significantly to the development of interdisciplinary approaches in this field.

Throughout his career, Vigne has collaborated with international teams of scientists and has published extensively on topics related to archaeozoology, early domestication, and the Neolithic transition. His work continues to shape our understanding of the complex relationships between humans and other animals in the late prehistoric times.

Professor Eline Lorenzen is a world-leading molecular ecologist at the University of Copenhagen's Globe Institute, where she investigates the intricate relationships between climate change and biodiversity. Her groundbreaking research journey began with childhood safaris in South Africa, where she first encountered the remarkable diversity of African mammals that would later shape her scientific career.

Professor Lorenzen combines cutting-edge molecular techniques with traditional natural history to understand how species respond to environmental change. Her interdisciplinary approach, influenced by her early work with pioneering palaeogeneticist Eske Willerslev, has earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including the 2023 Elite Research Prize from the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

Beyond her research achievements, Professor Lorenzen holds key advisory positions with international conservation organizations including the IUCN Species Survival Commission and WWF Denmark. Her work has been featured in major biology textbooks and recognized by UNESCO-L'Oreal's For Women in Science program.

A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary research and scientific storytelling, Professor Lorenzen leads a diverse research group of international scientists and emphasizes the importance of communicating complex scientific findings in compelling ways. Her innovative research provides crucial insights into how species adapt to changing environments—knowledge that is increasingly vital in our era of rapid global change.

Dr. Mary E. Prendergast is a distinguished archaeologist and professor at Rice University in Texas,  who studies the intricate relationships between humans and animals throughout history. Her groundbreaking research in eastern Africa examines how ancient pastoral communities shaped their environments and social networks, with a particular focus on the emergence of herding societies in Kenya and Tanzania.

As co-leader of excavations at the Pastoral Neolithic site of Luxmanda in Tanzania, Dr. Prendergast employs cutting-edge scientific techniques—including archaeogenetics, biomolecular archaeology, and zooarchaeology—to understand how early herding communities adapted to new environments and interacted with local hunters and gatherers. Her work reveals how these ancient interactions continue to inform modern debates about land management and human-wildlife coexistence in eastern Africa.

Dr. Prendergast's research also extends to the Indian Ocean trading networks, where she investigates how the movement of animals, plants, and diseases transformed local economies and foodways. Through her work with the Sealinks Project, she has uncovered crucial evidence of biological and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean rim, from coastal Africa to Madagascar and the Comoros.

A leading voice in archaeological ethics, Dr. Prendergast champions responsible research practices in archaeogenetics and advocates for meaningful collaboration with museum curators, community groups, and local stakeholders. Her innovative approach to studying human origins and population interactions in Africa demonstrates how archaeological research can bridge past and present, offering valuable insights into contemporary ecological and social challenges.