The new Nevis Centre for Archaeology Research at Bellevue (adjacent to Nelson Museum) was made possible through a generous bequest from Dr Elaine Morris, Visiting Fellow in Archaeology at the University of Southampton (UK) and a steadfast member of the NHCS. Dr Morris has a long history of archaeological work in Nevis as part of the 'Nevis Heritage Project', in particular through her research on the making and using of Nevis Afro-Caribbean pottery over the past 350 years. The new research centre comprises a Research Room for visiting researchers, Finds Processing Room, Equipment Storage Room and Artefact Storage Room that should provide enough shelf space for the archaeological finds excavated from c. 1980 through to c. 2030, covering a minimum of 50 years of fieldwork on the island by many different teams of researchers' and amateurs’ collections.

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Over the years, numerous archaeologists have carried out surveys and excavations, and conducted field schools. Prof Marco Meniketti of the San Jose State University Department of Anthropology has led 60 students in the Nevis Field Schools since 2007. In January 2025, the Gender and Minority Affairs Committee of the Society for Historical Archaeology, awarded Prof Meniketti and his Nevis Field School First Place Honors for Excellence and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion in Research Design and Student Participation. Since 2017, Prof Neal Ferris' Field School out of Western University in Ontario has been exploring community roots and colonial impact on the island. Not only have his students used their skills in service of community heritage work, but their work helped to advance and layer the rich story of the Bath Hotel and Stream landscape. These field schools provide archaeology students with fundamental skills in archaeology, including identification, excavation, and artefacts handling. Western University's field school also engaged a number of Nevisian students in its 2023 field school, with a view to inspiring a new generation of archaeologists in Nevis!

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If you are an archaeologist planning to undertake research in Nevis, you can download the fillable Research Permit Application form and submit it by email. If you would like to visit the Centre, please make an appointment through our main office during normal working hours.