Thomas Wake

Thomas Wake serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he directs the Zooarchaeology Lab at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. His interdisciplinary research bridges archaeological science with environmental studies, focusing on human-animal relationships and environmental change across Pacific Rim regions.

Dr. Wake earned his Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley in 1995, establishing the foundation for his career in zooarchaeology and environmental reconstruction.

• Ph.D., University of California Berkeley (1995)

Wake's research spans archaeological and zooarchaeological investigations along the eastern Pacific Rim, with particular expertise in food and ethnicity studies, social complexity development, Caribbean Panama, California archaeology, neotropical archaeology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. His work frequently examines human impacts on island ecosystems through detailed faunal analysis and osteological studies.

• Specializes in zooarchaeological analysis of animal remains
• Expert in reconstructing historical ecological baselines
• Focuses on human-environment interactions in island contexts
• Studies prehistoric trade networks through faunal evidence
• Examines long-term human impacts on biodiversity
• Applies archaeological data to contemporary conservation challenges

Wake's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward increasingly interdisciplinary research connecting archaeology with conservation biology, ecology, and environmental science. His work shows particular strength in analyzing human impacts on island ecosystems across the Caribbean and Pacific regions, with growing emphasis on how historical ecological data can inform modern conservation efforts. The publications reveal expertise in zooarchaeological methods, faunal identification, and the application of scientific techniques to address complex questions about human-environment relationships over time.

Dr. Wake has secured significant research funding through multiple prestigious sources:

• National Science Foundation grants
• Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia-Panama funding
• American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grant
• Ahmanson Field Research Grant

As Director of UCLA's Zooarchaeology Lab, Wake oversees research analyzing animal remains from archaeological sites to reconstruct past human behaviors, subsistence strategies, and environmental conditions. The lab serves as a critical hub for interdisciplinary research connecting archaeology with biology, ecology, and conservation science, supporting both graduate and undergraduate researchers while contributing valuable historical perspectives to contemporary environmental challenges.