The Mysterious Disappearance of Roanoke Colony

The Mysterious Disappearance of Roanoke Colony 00:05

“This week on BuzzFeed Unsolved, we discuss what may be the oldest mystery in the United States, the lost colony of Roanoke.”

• The video focuses on the enigma surrounding the lost colony of Roanoke, emphasizing it as possibly the oldest mystery in American history. The narrative begins with the arrival of approximately 120 settlers to Roanoke Island in July 1587.

• John White, the governor and an explorer, led the new settlement. Shortly after their arrival, the colonists faced minor attacks from local Native Americans and requested White to return to England for additional supplies.

John White's Return to England 01:08

“On August 25th, 1587, just a month after arriving, White sailed back to England to gather supplies, leaving behind 115 colonists.”

• White departed to England to retrieve essential supplies and left behind 115 colonists, including his daughter Eleanor and granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in North America.

• Unfortunately, due to escalating tensions in England and the impending war with Spain, White was unable to return until August 1590, which marked a three-year absence.

The Vanishing of the Colony 02:27

“To his bewilderment, when White arrived, he found that the entire colony had vanished without a trace.”

• Upon his return, White discovered the colony had vanished and found only the word "Croatoan" carved into a post and "Cro" on a tree, raising questions about why the colonists did not leave more detailed messages.

• The absence of bodies or signs of a mass grave has left many baffled about the fate of the colonists.

Theories Surrounding the Disappearance 04:56

“To this day, nobody knows for certain the fate of the lost colony of Roanoke.”

• The video delves into various theories about the colony's disappearance, noting that historians and internet users alike have speculated about supernatural causes, but none have provided conclusive evidence.

• The first theory posits that the settlers may have been murdered by a local Native American tribe, given that there was prior animosity stemming from a previous failed colonization attempt.

Animosity Between Colonists and Native Americans 05:51

“Lane would actually go on to kill the king of the local tribe, Wingina, in an attempt to prevent the Natives from rising up against the colonists.”

• The earlier colony led by Ralph Lane faced hostility and attacks from Native Americans, partly due to Lane's violent actions against them. This history of confrontation suggests they might have had motives to attack the new settlers.

Assimilation with Native Americans 08:15

“The second theory is that the English settlers joined a nearby friendly Native American tribe and assimilated.”

• Another theory suggests that the settlers may have integrated with local tribes, particularly given the involvement of Manteo, a Native American who acted as an ambassador and even returned with White on his journey back to Roanoke.

The Role of the Croatan Tribe and Historical Evidence 09:02

"In 1888, 54 Croatan Native Americans petitioned Congress for aid, describing themselves as a remnant of White's lost colony."

• The Croatan tribe, with which Manteo was associated, played a significant role in the story of the Roanoke colony. Manteo was not from the Roanoke tribe, which limited his influence over the colonists. After some time, he returned to Croatoan Island with his people, potentially intending to bring the Roanoke colonists to his island.

• In an interesting development, a petition from 54 Croatan Native Americans to Congress in 1888 claimed they were remnants of the lost Roanoke colony. Their assertion about having "white blood" was based on their physical features, including gray eyes.

• Historical analysis suggests that many of the original colonists may have been killed, while some, particularly women and children, could have been integrated into the Croatan tribe.

Archaeological Findings Supporting Colonist Presence 10:00

"In 2015, archaeologists found a series of objects of European origin on Hatteras Island, where the Croatan tribe resided."

• In 2015, a significant archaeological discovery on Hatteras Island included European-origin artifacts, such as broken bowls, the hilt of an iron rapier sword, a slate writing tablet potentially printed with the letter "M", and aglets.

• These findings suggest the presence of individuals akin to the Roanoke colonists, particularly due to the sword's 16th-century origin, indicating it belonged to an Englishman of high standing. The writing tablet hints at the presence of educated Europeans, likely from the social class of the Roanoke settlers.

• However, most of these European artifacts were dated to the 17th century, roughly a hundred years after the Roanoke colony's disappearance.

Theories on the Colonists' Fate: Movement to Croatoan or Inland 11:28

"This theory could explain the carving 'Croatoan' that the settlers left behind, perhaps as a clue to their whereabouts."

• The conjecture that the Roanoke colonists migrated to Croatoan Island or moved inland is a critical part of the ongoing mystery. John White, the colony's governor, was also an accomplished artist who created a detailed watercolor map of the North Carolina coast, accurately showing locations including Roanoke and Croatoan Island.

• This map has been regarded as "the most careful, detailed piece of cartography for any part of North America to be made in the 16th century," and its accuracy is validated by comparisons to modern satellite imagery.

• Some contemporary interpretations of this map suggest that hidden markings could indicate the location of a fort where the colonists might have resettled, with further evaluations revealing potential use of invisible ink for these markings.

Intriguing Speculations on Secrecy and Abduction 15:49

"If this fort was indeed intended to be hidden, why the secrecy?"

• The question of why certain elements of the colonists' plans were concealed leads to speculation about the possible motivations of John White. Some theorize that he may have intended to keep the colony's location secret from the English court, who could have sent spies.

• Archaeological excavations in a site related to John White's accounts have uncovered European artifacts, linking the findings to the Roanoke colonists. However, definitive dating remains elusive.

• The absence of definitive evidence about the colonists after August 25, 1587, raises inquiries into their choices, prompting the suggestion of supernatural or even alien involvement as part of their mysterious disappearance.

The Alien Abduction Theory 17:41

"Some believe aliens would explain why the colonists' bodies were never discovered."

• A more speculative theory arises suggesting that the disappearance of the colonists might have been an instance of mass alien abduction. This theory provides a humorous yet grim perspective on why no bodies were ever found.

• It raises questions about the lack of any substantial clues left by the colonists—such as notes or maps—which could indicate they departed the island unexpectedly and perhaps not of their own free will.

• This theory serves as an exploration of the more bizarre aspects of this unsolved mystery, wrapped in the context of supernatural possibilities.

Theories Behind the Disappearance of Roanoke 18:11

"What if the hidden symbol on the map is not in fact a fort, but rather a craft to signify a landing spot?"

• There’s a theory suggesting that a mysterious symbol found on a map related to the Roanoke Colony could indicate a location for landing rather than a defensive structure. This theory posits that such crucial information would have to be kept secretive.

• In a comedic exchange, Shane jokingly suggests a mass abduction scenario, likening it to an alien tractor beam. This highlights the more whimsical ideas surrounding the colony's disappearance where humor meets speculation.

• Shane further elaborates on the idea, comparing it to being sucked into a pneumatic tube, but Ryan insists this view is unrealistic. They playfully banter about the absurdity of such theories while pondering why colonists did not document their experiences more thoroughly.

Exploring Outlandish Theories 19:58

"Shockingly, aliens are not the most outlandish theory."

• Following the alien abduction discussion, Ryan mentions that even stranger theories exist, leading to the introduction of the fifth theory, which revolves around a zombie plague as the explanation for the colony's disappearance. Shane urges viewers to consider this seriously as they transition to discussing an analysis by a researcher from the Zombie Research Society.

• This researcher proposes that a sudden outbreak of the undead would lead to chaos, potentially resulting in the total loss of the colony’s inhabitants. The enclosed nature of Roanoke as an island could mean that such an infection wouldn't spread beyond its borders.

Cannibalism as a Possible Solution 20:56

"Harvard archaeologist Lawrence Stager claims he discovered evidence suggesting mass cannibalism on Roanoke."

• Despite the speculative notion of zombies, there is tangible evidence supporting the theory of cannibalism among Roanoke's colonists. This mass cannibalism could have arisen during a period of extreme drought, which would have left the inhabitants desperate for sustenance.

• There is an intriguing debate between the ease of believing in a zombie apocalypse versus the more plausible, though still grim, reality of cannibalism born out of survival necessity. This dialogue highlights the broader complexities and the mysterious aura surrounding the historical and factual narrative of Roanoke.

The Ongoing Mystery of Roanoke 21:33

"In the end, the mystery of Roanoke continues to baffle."

• The disappearance of the Roanoke Colony remains an unsolved enigma with multiple theories but no definitive answers.

• Questions abound regarding whether the colonists relocated to join a neighboring tribe, if they met violent ends due to local conflicts, or if an even stranger explanation exists, perhaps beyond the realm of human understanding.