By JASMIN BONIMY, Guardian Staff Reporter

jasmin@nasguard.com

A report officially confirming whether bones found at Eleuthera's Preacher's Cave are the centuries old remains of a Lucayan indian and an Eleutheran Adventurer is expected to be issued in the next few weeks.

In March, a team of Miami-Dade archaeologists discovered what is believed to be the 500-year-old skeletal remains of a Lucayan Indian lying inches away from the remains of a 350-year-old Eleutheran Adventurer, just 150 meters beneath the cave's floor.

Now officials say a report on the historic find is expected to be issued by the end of the month.

Jeff Ransom, a Miami-Dade archaeologist who was at the Preacher's Cave dig, told The Guardian in an earlier interview: "A report concerning our excavations and the analysis of human remains at Preacher's Cave will be coming out soon, maybe by the end of August 2006."

Just days after the ancient skeletal remains were unearthed, government officials on Eleuthera said they hoped to transform the world-renowned cave into a national preservation park. Speaking at a press conference to announce the American-based archaeological team's findings, tourism official in Eleuthera, Raymond Harrison, said the park would benefit locals as well as visitors.

"We are looking to make this a national park because we want Bahamians to come and enjoy the cave as well," said Mr Harrison.

"What we have here is well beyond our imagination," he continued. "It lends itself not only to Bahamians and regular visitors but we are looking at historians, archaeologists and university students who study here. So it is important that we look at what we have here."

Mr Harrison also revealed that the proposed park would include a caretaker's house and 12 cabanas along the ridge area. He added that the government was also looking into developing nearby land that is owned by the island's Commonage Committee.

Eleuthera's Preachers Cave gained its name and notoriety in 1648 after Captain William Sayles and 75 settlers left Bermuda to settle in a place where they could practice religion freely. The group, which later came to be known as the Eleutherian Adventurers, were shipwrecked in a storm.

One man was drowned and the others managed to find shelter in the cave. A religious ceremony was later held there on the anniversary of the wreck in thanksgiving for their safe passage.