An entire civilization vanished overnight. What happened to the people of Roanoke Colony?
Despite leaving a cryptic clue, 'CROATOAN', no trace of the 115 colonists was ever found. Their disappearance remains one of America's oldest unsolved mysteries.
In 1587, a group of English colonists attempted to establish a permanent settlement on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. Their governor, John White, returned to England for supplies, but was delayed by war with Spain. When he finally returned in 1590, the colony was deserted. The only clue to their fate was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a wooden post. Despite numerous theories, no one knows what truly happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
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