Justin Fornal
Joined Atlas Obscura in 2026
Justin Fornal is an international explorer who uses an innovative blend of storytelling and activism to showcase vanishing traditions in crisis zones. Justin's expertise includes ancient textile production, traditional foodways and the material culture of ritual.
In recent years Justin has organized and led research expeditions through dozens of countries including Iraq, Somalia, Haiti, Yemen, Ethiopia, Liberia, Guyana, and high Arctic Greenland. Justin is a 2025 Society of American Travel Writers Gold Medal Awardee who has written extensively for National Geographic, VICE, The Explorers Journal, Parts Unknown, Adventure Journal, and Travel Weekly.
As a public presenter and storyteller, Justin uses exploration, research, and firsthand experience, to bring ancient civilizations, lost traditions, and extraordinary discoveries to life in a way that captivates audiences of all backgrounds.
