Dr. Edward Harris To Advise Bahamas On Forts
Archaeologist and National Museum of Bermuda director Dr. Edward Harris has been invited to visit the Bahamas this month to offer advice on historic fortifications.
Dr. Harris, inventor of the Harris Matrix methodology used worldwide to investigate archaeological sites, is also Bermuda’s forts expert; he is the author of “Bermuda Forts 1612–1957″, whose second edition has just been published, and was instrumental in Bermuda’s successful campaign to win United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization [UNESCO] World Heritage Site status for the town of St. George’s and its related forts in the year 2000.
During a recent lecture visit for the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs, Bahamas historian Dr. Keith Tinker spoke about the history of Bahamas and Bermuda connections and invited Dr. Harris to travel to his country to visit its forts and advise on their preservation and management.
Fort Charlotte guards the entrance to the harbour at Nassau in the Bahamas
“The Bahamas — in particular New Providence Island — is home to several historic forts that were built predominantly from limestone during the American Revolutionary conflict,” says Dr. Tinker. “The Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation [National Museum of the Bahamas] has oversight of these monuments and has made them available to the public for education and general enjoyment in a similar fashion to the National Museum of Bermuda.”
Dr. Tinker said “in the spirit of cultural exchange” Dr. Harris was invited to visit the Bahamas later this month “to share information on best practices in the administration, preservation of the physical fabric and conservation of artifacts of fortifications”—including Bermuda’s popular cannon-firing programmes and arrangements with the cruise ship industry.
“It will be an honour to examine the historic forts of New Providence Island with Dr. Tinker and to discuss their future with the board of the National Museum of the Bahamas, which is responsible for the preservation and use of those sites,” says Dr. Harris, who noted Bermuda’s own National Museum is housed within the island’s largest fortifications complex.
He concluded: “We here at our National Museum also welcome the opportunity to enhance our relationships with similar institutions in the Caribbean region.”
– Photograph courtesy of Lily Torrez
Love Dr. Harris’ work. Keep it up Doc!
Fantastic collaborative effort. Dr. Harris is a fantastic ambassador for Bermuda.
You know Dr. Harris’s work is extrordinary and the man is one of the best that we have had in these islands. I have the greatest respect for Dr. Harris and know he is the man for the job.
hope he goes to my favorite restaurant over by the public beach adjacent to where the cruise ships dock. one of my quiet towns when i go to getting away from the pressure of de rock.
Dr Harris = a national treasure.
Dr. Harris is a brilliant man who has given the Harris Matrix to the world, and gives his day to day talent and expertise to Bermuda. He is a national treasure.
What he (and his team) has done with the National Museum (previously known as the Maritime Museum), is nothing short of miraculous. Such an array of history up there, showcased beautifully and creatively.
Every opportunity I have to interact with him, I learn something new.
Bahamas is going to love him and he is going to enhance their work on Forts for sure. We here in Bermuda better make sure Bahamas knows that he is ours, we need him, we support him, and they cant have him!!
The National Museum of Bermuda in Dockyard stands proudly today, on one of the further most outcroppings of our islands. It is well to remember that for many years until early nineteen eighties, Dockyard was a derelict neglected site, while the now historically gorgeous Commissioner’s House was being used for a chicken coop.
Dr. Harris’ vision has been supported by the seriously committed original group of trustees (who had the vision to bring him home as the Executive Director) and those later committed trustees following, along with hundreds and hundreds of volunteers as well as very large and very small financial donors.
Dr. Harris has traveled thousands of miles over the years, raising millions of dollars in operating funds as well as collecting significant artifacts as additions to Bermuda’s history from interested living benefactors and legacy estates from within and outside of our precious island. He has involved residents and guest workers alike and our school children in our history through tours, project days, media driven and written publications all helping to convey the message that our history is our heritage; we are all a sum of what came before us.
His career, indeed, his entire life’s work has been devoted to enhancing Bermuda as a tourist and historically significant attraction for the world to see and admire. All for the betterment of Bermuda and her people.
He is our brother. He is my brother.
Our family is extraordinarily proud of our brother, Dr. Edward C. Harris.
Martha Harris Myron
I am extraordinarily proud to call Dr. Edward C. Harris my friend. Ed and I went to Mount Saint Agnes Academy and from a young age, I recognized his brilliant mind. He was also an amazing pianist and I always admired the guy pianists that we had at that time. Bermuda is very fortunate to have one of the men of our soil return and do such great things for Bermuda, The National Museum of Bermuda, and tourism. Hard to believe that the guy of the 60′s on the “diddlebop with the gooseneck handlebars is who Dr. Harris is today. I applaud him.
As an archaeologist from the far-away country of Hungary in Central Europe, I have read the article about Dr. Harris’ visit to the Bahamas to advice on historical fortifications only now.
It is one year after I have visited your wonderful island, as the Hungarian translator of Dr. Harris’ book: “The principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy”.
I am glad to come across this page while searching on the net for his recent works, for it has opened my eyes on something that I did not know before, and what made him even more sympathetic to me both as an archaeologist and a person.
While exploring Bermuda’s beautiful natural sights and the historic monuments which are fitting so well into this scenery, I did not know that it was mainly the result of Dr. Harris’ work to have all these fascinating buildings in such a shape. He has never said a word about his merits in this. In my excuse it has to be said, that this type of his activities is not really advertised abroad, he is well known only for his inventing the Harris Matrix.
I am glad to report, that the new generation of the Hungarian archaeologists is using, learning, discussing the Harris method of archaeological excavation and documentation, and the Hungarian translation of it is very popular among them.
I have always regarded it as a great privilege to be a guest at his house and participate in some of his programmes, but now I regard it as even greater. His generosity, open-mindedness and kindness combined with the genuine capacity for leadership makes him for me the good example of the British Gentleman.
Thank you Ed, thank you Dr. Harris