Archaeologists Find Remains of Natives and Puritans
Archaeologists Find Remains of Natives and Puritans in Preacher’s Cave
“Fascinating” discovery: In 1647 a Puritan group that called themselves the “Eleutherian Adventurers” left Bermuda to find a place where they could practice religious freedom. (Note: Eleutherian is from the Greek word “freedom”). The group encountered a storm which caused their ship to wreck. Led by William Sayles, the adventurers found their way to shore and took refuge in what would later be called Preacher’s Cave. A religious service was held every year following in the cave for the next 100 years on the anniversary of the day that God led the group to safety in what they believed to be the Promised Land.
Now, a group of archaeologists in Preacher’s Cave unearthed the remains of 11 people—five Lucayans (original Native American inhabitants of the Bahamas) and six Eleutheran Adventurers, including a baby. According to a report The Nassau Guardian, the team headed by Chief Archaeologist Bob Carr, traveled to the cave expecting only to find artifacts from the Lucayans, Eleutheran Adventurers and African slaves, instead they found much more. One tourist from Massachusetts who’d visited, reportedly described the scene as “fascinating.” [© Breaking Christian News 2005-2006]