The mystery of the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke, established by English settlers in 1585 on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, has baffled historians for centuries.
The entire colony mysteriously disappeared, leaving only the cryptic word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Recent archaeological discoveries, however, suggest a new theory: rather than all perishing or vanishing without a trace, the colonists may have split into smaller groups and integrated with Indigenous tribes in the region.
Evidence of this theory comes from artifacts found at two sites: “Site X” on the mainland and another site known as “Site Y” on Hatteras Island, which was home to the Croatoan tribe. These artifacts, including English ceramics and tools, indicate that the settlers may have lived among the Indigenous peoples, adopting their way of life for survival.
This discovery supports long-held oral traditions of Native American tribes, suggesting the colonists did not simply disappear but became part of local communities.
While this evidence does not provide a complete answer, it offers a compelling possibility that the Roanoke settlers survived through assimilation.
Recent archaeological discoveries, aided by a secret symbol on a centuries-old map, suggest that some of the Roanoke colonists who disappeared in 1587 may have moved and integrated with Indigenous populations.
Researchers from the First Colony Foundation uncovered colonial-era pottery at a site linked to the settlers.
This supports the theory that, rather than vanishing, some colonists relocated to areas like Hatteras Island, as hinted by the word “Croatoan” carved into a post when Governor John White returned to find the colony abandoned in 1590.
The fate of the Roanoke colonists has spawned various theories, none of which paint a positive picture. Historians suggest several possibilities: the settlers may have been killed by Native Americans or hostile Spanish forces, perished from disease or famine, or fallen victim to a devastating storm.
Each theory reflects the harsh realities faced by early colonists in an unfamiliar and often dangerous environment.
In 2012, researchers discovered a significant lead while studying John White’s map of the Elizabethan-era United States, titled La Virginea Pars, at the British Museum. They found outlines of two forts drawn in invisible ink, likely to protect information from the Spanish.
One of these forts is located approximately 50 miles west of Roanoke, matching the distance the colonists indicated they planned to relocate, as noted in White’s writings.
This finding supports the theory that some settlers may have moved inland rather than perished.
In 2015, a team of archaeologists from the First Colony Foundation, led by Nick Luccketti, began investigating a site in Bertie County, North Carolina.
This site, potentially linked to the Roanoke colonists, was located near a Native American village called Mettaquem, which is characteristic of early European settlements.
The proximity to this village suggested a possible interaction between the settlers and Indigenous populations, further supporting theories of relocation and integration.
At Site X, just outside the village wall near Mettaquem, archaeologists found two dozen shards of English pottery, indicating potential colonist activity.
Although no fort was identified, ground-penetrating radar revealed another possible dig site two miles away, suggesting further areas to explore in the quest to understand the fate of the Roanoke colonists.
In December 2019, excavations at Site Y uncovered numerous ceramic fragments from various parts of Europe.
These fragments, associated with vessels used for food preparation and storage, indicate the presence of long-term residents.
This evidence further supports the idea that some of the Roanoke colonists may have settled in the area and integrated into local communities.
“What has been found so far at Site Y in Bertie County appears to me to solve one of the greatest mysteries in Early American history, the odyssey of the ‘Lost’ colony,” William M. Kelso, emeritus director of archaeology and research at Jamestown Rediscovery, said in a statement.
While experts have not completely ruled out the possibility that the artifacts at Site Y could have belonged to Jamestown colonists, founded in 1607, Nick Luccketti is confident that they are evidence of relocated Roanoke settlers.
A significant point supporting this theory is the absence of English pipes, commonly found among Jamestown settlers, suggesting that the ceramics date back to an earlier period, consistent with the timeline of the Roanoke colony.
“We are very confident that these excavations are linked to the Roanoke colonies. We have considered all other reasonable possibilities and can find nothing else that fits the evidence,” a First Colony Foundation representative told Artnet News in an email.
“[The excavations] begin to reveal where the colonist went to live and how they tried to survive in the New World.”
Not all experts agree with the theory that the artifacts belong to relocated Roanoke colonists. Charles Ewen, an archaeologist at East Carolina University, expressed skepticism, stating that the researchers may be more focused on proving their theory rather than following a scientific approach that seeks to disprove it.
This highlights the ongoing debate among scholars regarding the fate of the Roanoke colony.
