Richard Cooke (archaeologist)

Richard Cooke is a British archaeologist specializing in the pre-Columbian archaeology of Panama and Central America. His research has significantly contributed to the understanding of the early human occupation, subsistence strategies, and social complexity of these regions, particularly the Isthmus of Panama.

Cooke's work is notable for its multidisciplinary approach, often incorporating paleoecological data, zooarchaeology, and lithic analysis to reconstruct past environments and human-animal relationships. He has conducted extensive excavations at important archaeological sites such as Cerro Mangote, Aguadulce Shelter, and numerous shell midden sites along the Pacific coast of Panama.

His research has challenged previous assumptions about the timing and nature of agricultural development in Central America, highlighting the importance of coastal resources and diverse subsistence strategies in the region's prehistory. Cooke's publications are widely cited and have helped to shape the current understanding of the cultural and environmental history of Panama and its surrounding areas. He has also been involved in the training of local archaeologists and the preservation of archaeological heritage in Panama.