Departmental News

Posted:  Aug 25, 2025 - 12:00pm

James Chaves, graduate student in the Public Archaeology program, has been awarded a fellowship with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) to work on his project FROM OPEN WATERS TO ESTUARIES: INVESTIGATING PREHISPANIC FISHING STRATEGIES ALONG THE SANTA MARÍA RIVER IN CENTRAL PANAMA. 

His proposal focuses on the bulk isotopic analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in archaeological fish remains from Cueva de los Vampiros (AG-145), dating from 2200 BP to 1100 BP, to investigate shifts in fishing subsistence strategies and locations in the Parita Bay over time. To achieve this, a multi-step methodology will be employed, combining modern baseline data with the direct analysis of archaeological and modern fish remains, as well as primary producer aquatic plants. This interdisciplinary approach will provide new insights into human-environment interactions in pre- Hispanic Panama and enhance our understanding of how its inhabitants engaged with their surroundings, particularly marine ecosystems.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute was established with the purpose of advancing and sharing knowledge about the past, present, and future of tropical ecosystems and their importance to human well-being. Based in Panama, STRI is a leading global center for research on tropical biodiversity and ecosystems, dedicated to understanding these environments and their impact on humanity across time.