Tuna Fishing Tradition in Jicarita: Archaeological Investigations in the Coiba Archipelago, Panama

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Fishing Technologies: Exploring Manufacturing Techniques and Styles, Traditions, Exchange, Migration and More" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Recent archaeological investigations into the marine traditions of Jicarita Island, located in the Coiba Archipelago in Panama, reveal a rich history deeply intertwined with maritime activities (Cal 1290–1060 B.P). This study sheds light on the maritime practices, technologies, and sociocultural aspects of the pre-Columbian population associated with procuring and butchering tuna fish (Euthynnus lineatus). Through a combination of zooarchaeology and artifact analysis, preliminary data of the fish bones suggest that black skipjack tuna was smoked and preserved at the site, with the head and tail being disposed of there. The middle part of the fish was not found, indicating that the fillets were likely exported to other locations in the archipelago. Lithic artifacts were used to catch and scale this species. The findings offer valuable information about the region's maritime heritage and contribute to our understanding of prehistoric coastal societies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Fishing Technologies: Exploring Manufacturing Techniques and Styles, Traditions, Exchange, Migration and More

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50762