archaeological dig into the Durnford works at Smith's Fort.

Since 1993, director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum Edward Harris and Prof.

Norman Barka of the College of William and Mary, have with the help of students and volunteers been excavating Paget Fort and Smith's Fort.

The skeleton was found in a fill area between two gun embrasures on June 22.

It was 60 centimetres below the top of the ground surface.

The person had been buried in a coffin and although the wood had decayed, the nails of the coffin were found.

It is likely, judging from the bone structure, that the person was female and in her late teens or early 20s. There was no evidence of trauma or disease.

But the questions still remain: Who was she? Why was she buried in a military fortification? Paget Fort was the first fort built in Bermuda in 1612 and was modified by a member of the Royal Engineers, Andrew Durnford, in 1791.

Smith's Fort, on Governor's Island in St. George's, was built in 1613 and was also modified by Mr. Durnford.