Steenstrup, Johannes Iapetus Smith (1813-1897)

Danish zoologist who is considered to be one of the founders of archaeology after his studies of fossilized plant remains in Danish peat bogs.

Steenstrup was born in Vang, Denmark and despite his lack of a University education and degree went on to teach at the Sorø Academy. In 1842, he published a paper on the alternation of sexual and asexual generations in certain animal species which led to his promotion to professor of zoology at the University of Copenhagen 1846. He also worked on the cephalopod group of invertebrates, including octopus and squid, and other marine invertebrates. He took up the study of fossils 1950. He is known to have corresponded with Charles Darwin, although he did not agree with his theory of evolution.