Björn Kurtén
Encyclopedia
Björn Olof Lennartson Kurtén (1924 – 1988) was a distinguished vertebrate
paleontologist. He belonged to the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland
. He was a professor
in paleontology at the University of Helsinki
from 1972 up to his death in 1988. He also spent a year as lecturing guest professor at Harvard University
in 1971
He was also the author of an acclaimed series of books about modern man's encounter with Neanderthals, such as Dance of the Tiger
(1978, 1980). When asked what genre
these works belonged in, Kurtén coined the term paleofiction to describe his oeuvre. This genre was popularized by Jean M. Auel
in her Earth's Children
series of books. He received several awards for his books around popularized science, among others the Kalinga Prize
from UNESCO
.
In the 1980s, Kurtén also hosted a 6-part TV series about the ice age
, co-produced by several Scandinavian TV channels.
Kurtén also published some fifty scientific works, two of them in cooperation with the Spanish paleontologist Miquel Crusafont Pairó
.
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
paleontologist. He belonged to the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in paleontology at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
from 1972 up to his death in 1988. He also spent a year as lecturing guest professor at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1971
He was also the author of an acclaimed series of books about modern man's encounter with Neanderthals, such as Dance of the Tiger
Dance of the Tiger
Dance of the Tiger is a short novel, published in English in 1980, by palaeontologist Björn Kurtén that deals with the interaction between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons...
(1978, 1980). When asked what genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
these works belonged in, Kurtén coined the term paleofiction to describe his oeuvre. This genre was popularized by Jean M. Auel
Jean M. Auel
Jean Marie Auel is an American writer. She is best known for her Earth's Children books, a series of novels set in prehistoric Europe that explores interactions of Cro-Magnon people with Neanderthals...
in her Earth's Children
Earth's Children
Earth's Children is a series of speculative alternative historical fiction novels written by Jean M. Auel set circa 30,000 years before present. There are six novels in the series...
series of books. He received several awards for his books around popularized science, among others the Kalinga Prize
Kalinga Prize
The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people...
from UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
In the 1980s, Kurtén also hosted a 6-part TV series about the ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, co-produced by several Scandinavian TV channels.
Partial bibliography
- Istiden (The Ice Age) (Forum, 1969)
- Den svarta tigern (1978) (Dance of the TigerDance of the TigerDance of the Tiger is a short novel, published in English in 1980, by palaeontologist Björn Kurtén that deals with the interaction between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons...
, 1980) - Mammutens rådare (1982) (Singletusk)
- De skuldlösa mördarna (1987) (The Innocent Assassins, Columbia University Press, 1991)
- The Cave Bear Story: Life and Death of a Vanished Animal (Columbia University Press, NY, 1976)
- The Age of Mammals (Columbia University Press, NY, 1973)
Kurtén also published some fifty scientific works, two of them in cooperation with the Spanish paleontologist Miquel Crusafont Pairó
Miquel Crusafont
Miquel Crusafont i Pairó was a Catalan paleontologist, specializing in mammal bones.He obtained a degree in Pharmacy in the University of Barcelona in 1933, and a further degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Madrid in 1950.He was unanimously elected Professor of Paleontology at the...
.