The lost colony of Roanoke in America: Why did the settlers disappear?
In the late 15th century, a group of English settlers led by Sir Richard Greenville, a British explorer, made their way to the coast of North Carolina. They were determined to establish the first British colony in America. Their arrival marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the New World. But something strange happened after they established a colony called Roanoke off the eastern coast of North America. After a few years, the settlers disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few cryptic clues that have puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries. What happened to the settlers of Roanoke? Where did they go? Why did they leave without a trace? Let’s explore the colonisation of Roanoke and unravel the mystery of their disappearance!
The early settlements at Roanoke
In 1585, 107 English settlers landed on the coast of what is now North Carolina, establishing a colony known as Roanoke. The settlers quickly got to work. They built homes, planted crops and forged friendly relations with the local Native American tribes. However, sustaining the colony proved challenging, and after a few years, the settlers found themselves in dire need of supplies and reinforcements. As tensions mounted between the settlers and the native Americans, Greenville set sail for England to procure the necessary provisions. In his absence, conflict continued to brew between the settlers and the indigenous tribes, making life in Roanoke increasingly difficult. When Greenville finally returned, he found the colony deserted and no sign of the settlers he had left behind! Greenville immediately set sail to England to enlist help from fellow explorers to find the settlers he had left on the island. This led to the second attempt at colonising Roanoke.
John White comes to Roanoke
In 1587, another British explorer, John White, led a group of 115 settlers to Roanoke to reinforce and resupply the struggling colony. Unfortunately, their journey was fraught with obstacles from the very beginning. White's ship was attacked by Spanish forces, causing a significant delay in their arrival. When they finally made it to Roanoke, they were met with a shocking sight. The colony had been deserted, with all the buildings dismantled and no sign of the settlers. However, this did not stop the British. They attempted to rebuild their settlement in Roanoke. While doing so, they faced numerous challenges, including ongoing conflicts with the local tribes and a lack of resources to sustain the colony. With little choice left, White decided to return to England to seek assistance. But when he arrived, he found that England was embroiled in a bitter conflict with Spain, and no help was forthcoming. It wasn't until three years later, in 1590, that White could finally return to Roanoke, only to discover that the colony had been completely abandoned. The real reason behind the disappearance of the Roanoke settlers remains shrouded in mystery to this day.
The theories of disappearance
The disappearance of the Roanoke settlers has long been the subject of speculation and debate. The most widely accepted theory holds that the settlers were massacred by Native Americans. However, this theory has not been proven yet. Another theory suggests that the settlers abandoned Roanoke and joined one of the nearby Native American tribes, such as the Croatoans. This theory is supported by the word ‘Croatoan’ carved into a post in the abandoned colony, suggesting that the settlers may have gone to live with that tribe. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this theory, and it is unclear what became of the settlers, if they did join a Native American tribe. A more mundane explanation is that they simply died of starvation and exposure. The colony was struggling to sustain itself, and it is possible that the settlers were unable to survive in the harsh environment of the New World. However, this theory does not explain why the settlers would have dismantled the buildings and left no sign of their presence.