What are your theories on the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

Answer 1

no theories at this time, but I hope somebody finds them.

Answer 2

Five Popular Theories:

1. The people of Roanoke simply left the settlement.
This is one of the more probable theories. It is said that they have supposedly left Roanoke island and started settling in the Chesapeake Bay. And that they built rafts or a boat of some sort using materials torn apart from their houses. Close to twenty years had passed before John Smith and his group started the well-known settlement of Jamestown (where the popular story of Pocahontas takes place). This settlement was near the Chesapeake Bay. The evidence in this tale is that the ruler of the natives did indeed admit to killing the colonists. They said that they had been in their land (Chesapeake Bay area) and were then annihilated to prevent more English settlers form stealing their land.

2.The whole population of Roanoke Island was killed by a disease.
This is an absurd theory. It is true that the English had brought over some diseases. However, note, there were no bodies found and the houses had disappeared. Quite a ridiculous theory.

3. The village was destroyed by a severe storm such as a hurricane.
Another one of the incredulous theories. A hurricane could have washed away the colonists and destroyed the houses, true. But the huge problem with this theory is the fence was still standing. It is not possible for a storm to do as much damage as clearing away the whole settlement when the fence remained untouched.

4. The people of Roanoke decided to leave Roanoke Island to live with the Natives.
This theory is definitely probable. Crotoan, which was carved on the post, was the name of an island in the area. It was also the name of the group of the kind natives that inhabited it. It is possible that they colonists decided to live with the natives of Croatoan. Though there has not been a descent amount of evidence to prove this theory, there also has been no evidence against it.

5. The colonists were killed by the Native Americans
This is the most probable of all five theories. One important fact supports this theory. As one may not know, the English men had before tried to start the colony of Roanoke before. Twas a group of fifteen men. A little over a year had passed since they first started the colony, before explorers decided to check up on their hopeful progress. What these explorers found was one dead body. It was verified that it was the work of the Natives. From this past event we know that the Natives were capable of such atrocities and also capable of hiding the bodies. What’s interesting is that the Natives pulled all of that off in between less than a two year period. While the “lost colony” had been deprived of its leader for a number of three years. The “Indians” had a sufficient amount of time to tear down the buildings too. However there has still not been enough evidence to verify this theory.


It is an incredible fact that hitherto historians contain no sure explanation about what exactly happened to the colonists and the residences of Roanoke in 1588. People have umpteen theories on what occurred in that three year period. Some, as we know, include, the spread of a disease, a hurricane, etc. Even peculiar yet probable theories such as extra-terrestrial abductions have been issued. Will mankind perpetually crawl in the dark when it comes to this topic? Or, will light be discovered?

Answer 3

Roanoke had rough winters, true. But when the settlers landed they found land that had already been occupied, cultivated and maintained by the tribes. Losses surely occurred from disease and cold, but the most likely reason to abandon the settlement was to join with the established societies here. Much better to learn from and survive with the native culture than to sit and hope for a supply ship to find you.

Answer 4

A sound theory is that Spanish sailors kidnapped the colonizers and dumped their bodies a couple leagues out to sea. The Spanish did this in order to stop English colonizing in the New World. This also explains why their bodies were never found.

Answer 5

Well, he DID find something .... the word "Croatan" carved into a tree. They most likely joined the local Native American tribe to survive. Many Native American tribes "adopted" productive members into their nation. The Natives of North Carolina were famous for it .... safety in numbers. (The Powhatans of Virginia had been making moves to "alliance" all the local tribes... sometimes aggressively) The east coast was FULL of hundreds and hundreds of villages, towns, large towns even, of Native Americans. Towns of houses, large well cared for crops, animals raised for meat, smoke houses to cure meat and fish, grain storage structures, community meeting buildings. The Natives were NOT "savages".... just different, and then again, not that different. The "Pilgrims" landed at "Plymouth Rock" ...... a native American village ..... one of 4/5 within short walking distance of one another. Another theory .... they could have run off to FIND a tribe to take them in, and got killed or lost in the process. Or ..... they could have been kidnapped by local Natives.

Answer 6

I would assume that they were massacred by the Injuns. If they had wandered off to join the aboriginal tribes, returning European explorers would have discovered them and their children, when they eventually did return. As they did not, the most likely explanation is that they were attacked and killed. Poor Virginia Dare, eaten by a Cherokee, or by a Mantahoc or by a Powhatan, or by a Shawnee.

Answer 7

I think they all got tired of waiting for the ship to arrive and decided that no one was coming back and joined and were absorbed into the local indian tribes. I mean would you wait four years for a boat that no one thinks is coming and you have neighbors that can help you aquire food and clothing and shelter and some one has left you high and dry.. I think you would migrate to better pastures with your friends ..

Answer 8

Working your butt off was a way of getting out of the English debtor's prisons. I guess they worked themselves to death! The debtors and the prostitutes that had been arrested for soliciting got together and they and the ***** slaves got together to form this great freemens association that is the United States.

Answer 9

some survived and were assimilated into Indigenous Tribes. perhaps sooner or later DNA tests will provide some answers

Answer 10

Wrath of God, Alien abduction, mass hysterical drowning. annihilation by the natives, who knows. It is fun to wonder about. What the heck is CROATON anyway?