historical importance.

Such a designation would boost the ailing economy of the Old Town which has been badly hit by the drop in tourism.

The World Heritage Site idea is that of Dr. Edward Harris, Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

Dr. Harris stressed that St. George's is the oldest continually settled town of English origins in the Americas.

In fact the buildings which remain intact from the 17th Century are second to none on the Western Atlantic.

Dr. Harris came up with the idea while he was guest instructor at the 1993 Advanced Archaeological Field School held at Jamestown in Virginia.

Although he was lecturing on the Harris Matrix and archaeological stratigraphy, he was able to take part in exploratory excavations on the remains of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

Jamestown was established in 1607 but went into rapid decline in 1699 when the capital was moved to Williamsburg. All that remains now above the ground is the church and half the site has been eroded away by the James River.

Dr. Harris said: "It was very interesting to be excavating at Jamestown which was established only five years before our historic town of St. George's.

"What is astounding is that virtually nothing of Jamestown stands above ground, whereas our beautiful St. George's is virtually intact and a going concern.

"Because of the fact that so little of Jamestown has survived, St. George's is now the oldest continually settled town of English origins in the Americas and therefore an archaeological and architectural site of first importance in the history of the New World.'' He pointed out that while many of Jamestown's earliest buildings have vanished without a trace, structures like the fortifications on Castle Island stand intact.

Dr. Harris said: "The fact is these structures are still standing which beats all the rest of British North America by at least a century. It is quite remarkable.'' The Colombian city of Cartagena has been designated a World Heritage Site because of its fortifications and buildings. Dr. Harris said: "It is internationally recognised as an area of outstanding importance.

"St. George's should be designated because of the same reasons. It is of great importance.'' Dr. Harris believes any such designation would lead to a vast amount of interest particularly in cultural tourism, one area being investigated by the Ministry of Tourism.

He said: "Designation should be sought by the Government for the Old Town in order to bring attention and funding to its preservation.'' A further invitation has been given to Dr. Harris to return to Williamsburg in October to give an illustrated lecture on the recent archaeological work at Castle Island.