Episode 12: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

When you take a look at our longstanding history, mankind can point to endless examples of our march towards progress and daring endeavors. 

We’ve risen from the ashes like a Phoenix, emerged from the depths of oppression, and brought in new dawns upon vast empires. The rise of great people and civilizations makes for an uplifting and even ego-affirming tale. 

But what of their inevitable downfall? 

On the flip side of our ancient coin, we see just as many examples of when humankind couldn’t hack it, for lack of a better term. It’s curious that our retellings of our own declines are distilled into one metaphorical reasoning. 

Whether stabbed in the back by a friend, or wiped out by foreign diseases, it would seem that every civilization, every community and every person has their own achilles heel.  

Including one of America’s oldest colonies. 

The colony of Roanoke, which predates the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, took root on an island off the eastern seaboard of North America, in modern day North Carolina. 

This settlement would have become the inaugural English colony in the New World. But it never did. 

‘Why?’ You ask. ‘What led them to their end?’ 

Well, that’s the thing. We don’t know. 

I’m Kate Naglieri. Welcome to The Bygone Society Show.

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