Josephine Joordens

Guest Special professor at Leiden University, Senior Researcher Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Originally trained and active as a marine biologist, I have later obtained a PhD in Earth Sciences and have conducted geoarchaeological-paleoanthropological research in Kenya and Indonesia since 2006. I combine the disciplines of Comparative Biology, Geology and Archaeology to ultimately answer that big question: what made us human? Given my background, I am especially interested in the relevance of aquatic environments for human evolution.

Currently I am working on a collaborative project with Lydia Luncz and David Braun (MPI Lise Meitner Group ‘Technological Primates’) on aquatic resource exploitation across primate species. 
I am also associated with the Human Origins Department to participate in collaborative research on human skeletal adaptations to the environment. In this framework I will study possible adaptations of diving hunter-gatherer populations to underwater foraging, together with physiologist Dr. Erika Schagatay (Mid Sweden University).

Rowan, J., Du, A., Lundgren, E.J., Taith, J.T., Beaudrot, L., Campisano, C.J., Joordens, J.C.A., Lazagabaster, I.A., Locke, E.M., Smail, I.E., Reed, K.E., & Kamilar, J.M. (2024). Long-term biotic homogenization in the East African Rift System over the last 6 million years of hominin evolution. Nature Ecology and Evolution 8: 1751-1759.

Cohen, A.S., Manobianco, J., Dettman, D.L., Black, B.A., Beck, C., Feibel, C.S., Joordens, J.C.A., Van Bocxlaer, B. & Vonhof, H. (2023). Seasonality and lake water temperature inferred from the geochemistry and sclerochronology of quaternary freshwater bivalves from the Turkana Basin, Ethiopia and Kenya. Quaternary Science Research 317: 108284.

Pop, E.L., Hilgen, S.L., Adhityatama, S., Berghuis, H., Veldkamp, A., Vohof, H.B., Sutisna, I., Alink, G., Noerwidi, S., Roebroeks, W. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2023). Reconstructing the provenance of the hominin fossils from Trinil (Java, Indonesia) through an integrated analysis of the historical and recent excavations. Journal of Human Evolution 176 (103312): 1-26.

Hilgen, S.L., Pop, E.L., Adhityatama, S., Veldkamp, A., Berghuis, H.W.K., Sutisna, I., Yurnaldi, D.,  Dupont-Nivet, G., Reimann, T., Nowaczyk, N., Kuiper, K.F., Krijgsman, W., Vonhof, H.B., Ekowati, D.R., Alink, G., Hafsari, M., Drespriputra, O., Verpoorte, A., Bos, R., Simanjuntak, T., Prasetyo, B. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2023). Revised age and stratigraphy of the classic Homo erectus bearing succession at Trinil (Java, Indonesia). Quaternary Science Research 301: 107908.

Hilgen, S.L., Hilgen, F.J., Adhityatama, S., Kuiper, K.F. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2022). Towards an astronomical age model for the Lower to Middle Pleistocene hominin-bearing succession of the Sangiran Dome area on Java, Indonesia. Quaternary Science Reviews 297: 107788.

Ruff, C.B., Sylvester, A.D., Rahmawati, N.T., Suriyanto, R.A., Storm, P., Aubert, M., Joannes-Boyau, R.,  Berghuis, H.W.K., Pop, E., Batenburg, J., Coban, S.B., Kostenko, A., Noerwidi, S., Renema, W., Adhityatama, S. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2022). Two late Pleistocene Homo femora from Trinil (Indonesia): implications for body size and behavior in Southeast Asia. Journal of Human Evolution 172: 103252.

Berghuis, H.W.K., van Kolfschoten, T., Adhityatama, S., Troelstra, S.R., Noerwidi, S., Suriyanto, R.A., Wibowo, U.P., Pop, E., Kurniawan, I., Hilgen, S.L., Veldkamp, A. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2022). The eastern Kendeng Hills (Java, Indonesia) and the hominin-bearing Mojokerto beds: a re-interpretation. Quaternary Science Reviews 295: 107692.

Balzeau, A., Albessard-Ball, L., Kubicka, A.M., Filippo, A., Beaudet, A., Santos, E., Bienvenu, T., Arsuaga, J.-L., Bartsiokas, A., Berger, L., Bermúdez de Castro, J.M., Brunet, M., Carlson, K.J., Daura, J., Gorgoulis, V.G., Grine, F.E., Harvati, K., Hawks, J., Herries, A., Hublin, J.-J., Hui, J., Ives, R., Joordens, J.C.A., Kaifu, Y., Kouloukoussa, M., Léger, B., Lordkipanidze, D., Margvelashvili, A., Martin, J., Martinón-Torres, M., May, H., Mounier, A., Du Plessis, A., Rae, T., Röding, C., Sanz, M., Semal, P., Stratford, D., Stringer, C., Tawane, M., Temming, H.,  Tsoukala, E., Zilhão, J., Zipfel, B. & Buck, L.T. (2022). Frontal sinuses and human evolution. Science Advances 8 (42): eabp9767.

Van der Lubbe, H.J.L., Hall, I.R., Barker, S., Hemming, S.R., Baars, T.F., Starr, A., Just, J., Backeberg, B.C. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2022). Indo-Pacific Walker circulation drove Pleistocene African aridification. Nature 598: 618-623.

Berghuis, H.W.K., Veldkamp, A., Adhityatama, S., Hilgen, S.L., Sutisna, I., Barianto, D.H., Pop, E.A.L., Reimann, T., Yurnaldi, D., Ekowati, D.R., Vonhof, H.B., van Kolfschoten, T., Simanjuntak, T. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2021). Hominin homelands of East Java: revised stratigraphy and landscape reconstructions for Plio-Pleistocene Trinil. Quaternary Science Reviews 528: 218-231.

Noerwidi, A., Vialet, A., Widianto, H., Kurniawan, I., Zaim, Y., Suriyanto, R.A., Joordens, J.C.A., Lorenzo, C., Simanjuntak, T. & Sémah, F. (2020). Exploring the diversity of fossil hominin dental patterns in the western Indonesian archipelago during the Quaternary by Geometric Morphometric Analysis. Application on second upper and lower molars. L'Anthropologie 124 (5): 102791.

Joordens, J.C.A., Feibel, C.S., Vonhof, H.B., Schulp, A.S. & Kroon, D. (2019). Relevance of the eastern African coastal forest for early hominin biogeography. Journal of Human Evolution 131: 176-202.

Van der Lubbe, H.J.L, Krause-Nehring, J., Junginger, A., Garcin, Y., Joordens, J.C.A., Davies, G.R., Feibel, C.S., Johnson, T.C. & Vonhof, H.B. (2017). Gradual or abrupt? Changes in water source of Lake Turkana (Kenya) during the African Humid Period inferred from Sr isotope ratios. Quaternary Science Reviews 174: 1-12.

Sier, M.J., Langereis, C.J., Dupont-Nivet, G., van der Lubbe, H.J.L, Joordens, J.C.A., Beck, C.C., Feibel, C.S., Olago, D., Cohen, A. & WTK Science Team (2017). The top of the Olduvai subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP). Quaternary Geochronology 42: 117-129.

Janssen, R., Joordens, J.C.A., Koutamanis, D., Puspaningrum, M., de Vos, J., van der Lubbe, J., Reijmer, J.J.G., O. Hampe & Vonhof, H.B. (2016). Tooth enamel stable isotopes of Holocene and Pleistocene fossil fauna reveal glacial and interglacial paleoenvironments of hominins in Indonesia. Quaternary Science Reviews 144: 145-154.

Joordens, J.C.A., d’Errico, F., Wesselingh, F.P., Munro, S., de Vos, J., Wallinga, J., Ankjærgaard, C., Reimann, T., Wijbrans, J.R., Kuiper, K.F., Mücher, H.J., Coqueugniot, H., Prié, V., Panuel, M., van der Haas, V., Lustenhouwer, W., Joosten, I., Schulp, A., van Os, B., Reijmer, J.J.G. & Roebroeks, W. (2015). Homo erectus at Trinil on Java used shells for tool production and engraving. Nature 518: 228-231.

Joordens, J.C.A., Kuipers, R.S., Wanink, J.H. & Muskiet, F.A.J. (2014). A fish is not a fish: patterns in fatty acid composition of aquatic food may have had implications for hominin evolution. Journal of Human Evolution 77: 107-116.

Joordens, J.C.A., Dupont-Nivet, G., Feibel, C.S., Spoor, F., Sier, M.J., van der Lubbe, H.J.L., Kellberg Nielsen, T., Knul, M.V., Davies, G.R. & Vonhof, H.B. (2013). Improved age control on early Homo fossils from the upper Burgi Member at Koobi Fora, Kenya. Journal of Human Evolution 65: 731-745.

Vonhof, H.B., Joordens, J.C.A., Noback, M.L, van der Lubbe, H.J.L., Feibel, C.S. & Kroon, D. (2013). Environmental and climatic control on seasonal stable isotope variation of freshwater molluscan bivalves in the Turkana Basin (Kenya). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 383-384: 16-26.

Kuipers, R.S., Joordens, J.C.A. & Muskiet, F.A.J. (2012). A multidisciplinary reconstruction of Palaeolithic nutrition that holds promise for the prevention and treatment of diseases of civilisation. Nutrition Research Reviews 25: 96-129.

Cohen K.M., MacDonald, K., Joordens, J.C.A., Roebroeks, J.W.M. & Gibbard P.L. (2012). The earliest occupation of north-west Europe: a coastal perspective. Quaternary International 271: 70-83. 

Joordens, J.C.A, Vonhof H.B., Feibel C.S., Lourens L.J., Dupont-Nivet G., van der Lubbe, H.J.L., Sier, M.J., Davies, G.R. & Kroon D. (2011). An astronomically-tuned climate framework for hominins in the Turkana Basin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 307: 1-8.

Holmes, J., Atkinson, T., Darbyshire, F., Horne, D., Joordens, J.C.A., Roberts, M. & Whittaker, J. (2010). Middle Pleistocene climate and hydrological environment at the Boxgrove hominin site (West Sussex, UK) from ostracod records. Quaternary Science Reviews 29 (13-14): 1515-1527. 


Joordens, J.C.A., Wesselingh, F.P., de Vos, J., Vonhof, H.B. & Kroon, D. (2009). Relevance of aquatic environments for hominins: a case study from Trinil (Java, Indonesia). Journal of Human Evolution 57 (6): 656-671.

Lepre, C.J., Quinn, R.L., Joordens, J.C.A., Swisher III, C.S. & Feibel, C.S. (2007). Plio-Pleistocene facies environments from the KBS Member, Koobi Fora Formation: implications for climate controls on the development of lake-margin hominin habitats in the northeast Turkana Basin (northwest Kenya). Journal of Human Evolution 53(5), 504-514.

Joordens, J.C.A., Kuipers, R.S. & Muskiet, F.A.J. (2007). Preformed dietary DHA: the answer to a scientific question may in practice become translated to its opposite. American Journal of Human Biology 19(4), 585-588.

Muskiet, F.A.J., Kuipers, R.S., Smit, E.N. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2007). The basis of recommendations in docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids in infant formula: absolute or relative standards? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 86 (6): 1802-1803.

Wanink, J.H. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2007). Dietary shifts in Brycinus sadleri (Pisces: Characidae) from southern Lake Victoria. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 10 (4): 392-397.

Joordens, J.C.A., Kuipers, R.S. & Muskiet, F.A.J. (2005). Discussion: on breast milk, diet, and large human brains. Current Anthropology 46 (1): 122-123.

Peperzak, L., Colijn, F., Koeman, R., Gieskes, W.W.C. & Joordens, J.C.A. (2003). Phytoplankton sinking rates in the Rhine region of freshwater influence. Journal of Plankton Research 25 (4): 365-383.

Joordens, J.C.A., Souza, A.J. & Visser, A.W. (2001). The influence of tidal straining and wind on suspended matter and phytoplankton dynamics in the Rhine outflow region. Continental Shelf Research 21 (3): 301-325.

Joordens, J.C.A., 1999. Coastal Management Research: a personal reflection on the conference outcome. Journal of Coastal Conservation 5: 181-186.

De Vries, I., Smaal, A.C., Nienhuis, P. & Joordens, J.C.A. (1996). Estuarine management strategies and the predictability of ecosystem changes. Journal of Coastal Conservation 2: 139-148.

Peperzak, L., Snoeijer, G.J. , Dijkema, R., Gieskes, W.W.C., Joordens, J.C.A., Peeters, J.C.H.,  Schol, C., Vrieling, E.G. & Zevenboom, W. (1996). Development of a  Dynophysis acuminata bloom in the river Rhine plume (North Sea). In: T. Yasumoto, Y. Oshima & Y. Fukuyo (Eds.). Harmful and toxic algal blooms. UNESCO, Paris: 273-276.

Escaravage, V., Peperzak, L., Prins, T.C., Peeters, J.C.H. & Joordens, J.C.A. (1995). The development of a Phaeocystis bloom in a mesocosm experiment in relation to nutrients, irradiance and coexisting algae. Ophelia 42: 55-74.

Van Haren, J.J.M. & Joordens, J.C.A. (1990). Observations of physical and biological parameters at the transition between the southern and central North Sea. Journal of Sea Research 25 (3): 351-364.