Archaeologist Richard Cooke dies

The scientific community is mourning the death of Dr. Richard Cooke, an archaeologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He was a tireless promoter of Panamanian archaeology.

He was born in England and came to Panama in 1969 to study for a doctorate, the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation recalled. (Senacyt) on his Instagram profile.

Since then, he has devoted more than 50 years to science and research, valuing and emphasizing the archaeological wealth and wealth of Panama’s heritage.

“TO Richard Cooke andIt is mandatory to read and quote it if you want to seriously write the ancient history of our country”, say archaeologists Tomás Mendizábal and Juan Guillermo Martín in the prologue of the book Much more than a land bridge.

Richard Cooke He will be remembered for his rich career and scientific publications for which he earned numerous awards, but also for his willingness to share his knowledge and experience as a mentor, colleague and friend, according to the Senacyt press release.

“The challenge before us is to continue their work and encourage the scientific study of our past as a country and society, and to protect our national heritage,” says Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, National Secretary of Senacyt.

Fact

in 2018 Richard Cooke officially received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at the residence of the ambassador of the United Kingdom.

This honor is conferred by SM the Queen twice a year as part of birthday and New Year celebrations. It was originally founded in 1917 by King George V.

Main research interests Richard Cooke are: the history of fishing in tropical waters, archaeology and paleoecology of the Central American land bridge, as well as archaeozoology.

He provided both of them with many professional opportunities Panamanian archaeologists like Central America and other countries.

condolences

He National Investigative System of Panama (SIN) wrote: “We are extremely saddened by the passing of our distinguished researcher from @SNI_Panama Sir. Richard Cooke, an Englishman with a great love for Panama, a reference to Panamanian archaeology. Our deepest condolences to his family. @IanCookeTapia and Dra Cata” .

“We honor the memory of a great scientist, who dedicated his life to Aeto study our millennial past. He was a mentor to many and left a deep mark on the next generation of researchers. Our condolences to his family,” he wrote Twitter Center for historical and anthropological research and Cultural (CIHAC AIP).