The Mysterious Disappearance of Roanoke Colony

Foundation requested that the British Museum re-examine two small areas of the map. Using patches to cover errors or damage was a common technique in 16th century map making, because creating maps required so much time and work that starting over was not a viable option. Using X-ray spectroscopy, infrared light and other imaging techniques, the British Museum was able to determine that the smaller spot covered a four-pointed star outlined in blue and filled with red. According to the British Museum report, while detailed interpretation of this symbol is beyond the scope of this study and best left to experts in the field, it appears certain that it represents a fort or fortification.

End of quote. In other words, the star may show the location of a fort inland from Roanoke Island, on the western side of Albemarle Sound, where settlers might have resettled. He covered it and they found it using light, and I will demonstrate it here. In fact, I prepared this for you. This is the map, right? - Yes, I know how light works. - Yes. That's the map. - Yeah, if you put a light underneath, you'll see... - Yeah, look how cool this is. Just a small map where you could see the star! - I know what the light is like... - It's great! - When you pass it through a piece of paper. - But, I'm just saying, it's incredibly incredible. - Didn't you prepare enough to put a star there? - There's a-- - Oh.

I actually couldn't see it. There you go. - Now you could see the star. Yeah, it's pretty good, right? - It's good. Good job. - To further add to the mystery, when examined closely, it was discovered that there are actually clear markings of this possible fort on the top of the patch as well. The British Museum report posits that the markings faded over time, but also proposes, quote, another possible explanation, albeit a rather romantic one, is that these lines could reflect the use of an invisible ink. An ink that would only be revealed by treating it in some way, usually applying heat, end quote, as demonstrated in the movie National Treasure.

These invisible marks can be achieved using milk or lemon juice. - Excellent. I'm on board. - I'm going to say this. - That? - I tend to lean towards it being invisible ink, mainly because why did they cover it up with a patch only to write the exact same thing over it again? - Good. He said: I'll put this here. Oh shit. Maybe I don't want people to know about this. Patch it. Maybe I want to let some people know about this. (clicks his tongue) - Yes. - Squeeze a lemon. - Then he gets to... - Milking a cow.

Doot doot doot doot. - And then it comes to Nick Cage. - Yes. - If this fort was indeed meant to be hidden, why the secrecy? Some speculate that White may have wanted to conceal the location of the

colony

from the English court, which may have harbored spies. Regardless of what the markings indicate, they believe this evidence supports the idea that settlers could have left Roanoke Island for this inland location. Interestingly, John White himself reportedly made an indirect reference to a location 50 miles inland from Roanoke Island in his account of what happened when he returned. Excavations at this site have found evidence of European presence, including Surrey-Hampshire Border Ware, a type of pottery that was discontinued shortly after Jamestown in 1624, and aglets, the aforementioned copper pipe used before early 17th century to secure wool fibers.

This is the best indication to link the location to the Roanoke settlers, although these items certainly cannot be dated to exactly the same time period. Even if it is eventually confirmed that the settlers moved inland or to Croatoan Island, many questions remain unanswered, such as why they left Roanoke Island. And what happened to them afterwards? Since the definitive existence of none of the 115 colonists lost after August 25, 1587 was not documented, these questions have led some to point to supernatural causes. - Oh. No no no no no no. - What happen? - I'm just preparing myself for any stupidity... - Any truth that comes to light here? - No.

No. - Is that what scares you? - That's not what I expected. Look, I mean, once you get past the things that make sense, you tend to land on aliens. - Which brings us to our fourth theory. That the

disappearance

of the colonists was a case of mass abduction by aliens. Some believe that aliens would explain why the settlers' bodies were never discovered. And if the Croatoan was indeed a clue to where they were headed, why didn't the settlers offer other substantial clues, such as a note or a map? Perhaps, because they left the island in a hurry and not of their own free will.

And while I'm getting into the deep end, let me end this theory with one last point. What if the hidden symbol on the map is not actually a fort, but rather a ship indicating a landing location? Obviously, if this were true, it would absolutely be something that would be hidden. - It's a massive abduction! Maybe they all lined up in a row and just entered the tractor beam one at a time. - Yeah. - That's like when you go to the bank and they, it's one of those little slides. Just people lining up to get... - Oh, yeah, just get in... - In that pneumatic tube. - Freshly sucked through the tube. - Well. - Yes, good.

Well. - That's a knowledge bomb. - No, that's not a knowledge bomb. - I just carried out an airstrike. I did a flyover. You're down there saying, yeah, they walked into the ocean! And I dropped the bomb right on top of your big, stupid head. - I don't think that... - And now, the truth surprises you. You are stunned. - I think you have altitude sickness. - There are distant stars, surrounding your eyes. - There are no stars here. I think you're crazy. - No. Don't you think it's great? That this could actually be a sign, like a crop circle? - Yes, but again, if you're already stressed that these people wrote something on a tree without any context, why not write on the map?

Hey, we saw something weird here, instead of just getting a little weird. symbol. - Because maybe they assimilated into the alien culture and it is much better there. - No. - They are in grasslands and fields of alien landscapes, eating small alien berries. Eating alien popcorn with half-alien, half-human kids. - You're hearing yourself saying these things, right now. You are committing to this. This is how you want to be known. - Surprisingly, aliens are not the wildest theory. - What did he do, wait. Wait wait. (Ryan laughing) It didn't even happen, it didn't even, I didn't even hear the words you were saying when you said, it brings us to our next theory because I thought it was as dumb as it was going to be. get. - I told you, you have no idea where this is going.

And with that, we have our fifth theory, that the lost

colony

of Roanoke disappeared due to a zombie plague. (Ryan laughing) Listen to me. I have some, I have some, I have some things here. - Read them. - A researcher named Andre Freeman, from the Zombie Research Society, believes that zombies would explain the rapid

disappearance

. He quotes, a sudden plague of undead that would sweep through the unsuspecting colony would quickly turn into a horrific and violent feast, leaving not a single man, woman or child alive. End of quote. After all, Roanoke was an island, so it was possible to contain the infection to the far reaches of the coast.

Before you tune out, Harvard archaeologist Lawrence Stager claims that he actually discovered evidence that would suggest mass cannibalism in Roanoke. Of course, Roanoke was experiencing the most extreme drought in the area in 800 years, so some would say this evidence points to the fact that the settlers turned to simple cannibalism rather than the undead. - Do you think that is perhaps more likely? - Maybe. What if this was the only zombie case and because it was on an island it was contained so it would never happen again? - What if it is not? There is nothing. -There's that bath salts thing where someone thought that guy was a zombie. -He was alive!

He had a beating heart. - Yes, they were shooting at him and he was just taking them. -Yes, because he was high, Ryan. -He was being shot down. He was like, give me more bullets! Yeah! In the end, the mystery of Roanoke continues to baffle. Did they just move away, perhaps joining a neighboring tribe? Were they killed due to tensions with locals? Or is the answer beyond our understanding? The true fate of the legendary lost colony of Roanoke remains unresolved. (creepy music) - Hi Ryan, I like your shirt. - Thanks, I like yours too. - Thank you. - Buy it here.