The “Roanoke Mystery” refers to the disappearance of the settlers of the Roanoke Colony, an early English settlement in North America, during the late 16th century. Established on Roanoke Island (in what is now North Carolina) in 1587, the colony was intended to be the first permanent English settlement in the New World. However, when its governor, John White, returned from a resupply mission to England in 1590, he found the settlement deserted. The 115 colonists, including men, women, and children, had vanished without a trace.
The only clue left behind was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a post, and “CRO” carved into a nearby tree. This led some to speculate that the colonists had relocated to Croatoan Island (now Hatteras Island) or integrated with local Native American tribes, such as the Croatoans. However, no conclusive evidence has been found to explain their fate.
Numerous theories have been proposed over the centuries, including:
• Assimilation with Native American tribes: Some believe the colonists integrated with the Croatoans or other tribes.
• Death from starvation or disease: The harsh conditions may have led to their demise.
• Spanish attack: Given that Spain was also vying for control of the New World, some have suggested a Spanish attack as a possibility.
The mystery remains unsolved, and the fate of the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke continues to fascinate historians and the general public alike.
30 сен 2024
