Longtails are roosting in the ramparts, and artefacts have been found under its floors, but this is all progress for Dockyard, according to Edward Harris.

The Bermuda Maritime Museum's executive director yesterday gave an update on its progress to Hamilton Rotarians. It included details on recent archaeological discoveries, progress with the museum's Longtail Residence Club and the creation of a national museum.

According to Dr. Harris, the museum has raised $26,000 to build long tail rookeries that will be placed along its ramparts.

"Hopefully within five to ten years there will be hundreds of longtails making there way into their new homes," he said.

Called 'igloos', the birds' homes have been developed with the help of former Government curator David Wingate. They have also been the focus of a public-relations campaign supporters lease igloos for $100 a year, $300 for five years and $5,000 for a lifetime.

The new national museum is also in progress. Cannons and one of the Island's original cobblestone streets have been found under feet of dirt, according to Dr. Harris.

Cabinet approved the addition of Casemates Barracks and Northwest Ramparts to the Maritime Museum for the creation of a national museum last year.

Volunteers have been working on Saturdays for the last three years or so, to restore the former prison to its original Bermuda Walsingham stone

Yesterday Dr. Harris said: "Islands tend to trap artefacts and we are fortunate here, we are lucky to have trapped more than most.

"[Once the new museum is complete], it's almost going to be an unprecedented museum site in this part of the world."