Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main theories about what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
The leading theory is assimilation. The colonists likely left Roanoke Island to live with the friendly Croatan tribe on nearby Hatteras Island. Over generations, they would have intermarried and been absorbed into the local population. Other theories include that they were attacked and wiped out by a hostile tribe (possibly the Powhatan, according to Jamestown sources), that they broke into smaller groups and were scattered, or that they attempted to sail back to England and were lost at sea. There is no strong evidence for theories involving a Spanish attack or supernatural events.
2. What does “Croatoan” mean and why is it so important?
What does Croatoan mean is the central question of the mystery. “Croatoan” was the name of a specific island south of Roanoke (modern-day Hatteras Island) as well as the name of the Algonquian-speaking tribe that lived there. Manteo, the English-allied native, was a member of this tribe. The carving is critically important because it was the destination John White believed the colonists had moved to. His inability to follow up on this clue due to a storm is the primary reason the colonists’ fate became one of the great unsolved mysteries of American history.
3. Did the failure of Roanoke stop English colonization in America?
No, but it significantly delayed it and altered its course. The massive financial and human loss made investors extremely cautious. It took 17 years for the English to launch another major effort, which resulted in the founding of Jamestown in 1607. The Virginia Company, which funded Jamestown, learned valuable lessons from Roanoke’s failure regarding the need for better locations, more realistic expectations, and, most importantly, a reliable system of resupply.
4. How did the conflict with Spain affect the Roanoke colony?
The war between England and Spain was arguably the single most decisive factor in the colony’s demise. The mobilization of all English shipping to fight the Spanish Armada in 1588 made it impossible for John White to return with supplies and reinforcements in a timely manner. The three-year delay he experienced because of the war severed the colony’s lifeline to England at its most vulnerable moment, leaving the settlers to face their fate alone.
5. Are there any modern archaeological clues about the colonists’ fate?
Yes, archaeological work continues to shed light on the mystery. The “Dare Stones,” a series of stones discovered in the 1930s allegedly inscribed by Eleanor Dare, have been largely discredited as a hoax. However, more recent and credible evidence has emerged. Archaeologists have found 16th-century English pottery and other European artifacts at sites on Hatteras Island and on the mainland (known as “Site X”), suggesting that some colonists may have indeed moved and lived among Native American communities after leaving Roanoke Island, which strongly supports the assimilation theory.
