Synopsis
"Becoming the Lost Colony: The History, Lore and Popular Culture of the Roanoke Mystery" by Charles R. Ewen and E. Thomson Shields, Jr. delves into the enduring enigma of the Roanoke Colony, the English settlement established in 1587 on Roanoke Island, whose inhabitants vanished without a trace. The authors meticulously examine the historical, archaeological, and literary evidence surrounding this mystery, scrutinizing various hypotheses that have emerged over time. They recount the history of the English expeditions in the 1580s and the original searches for the colonists from 1590 until the 1620s, presenting archaeological findings gathered from the 19th through the 21st centuries.
The book also explores how the disappearance of the colonists has been portrayed in pseudoscience, fiction, and popular culture from the beginnings until the present day. By analyzing these portrayals, the authors demonstrate why none of the proposed hypotheses have been shown to be more probable than any of the others. In the end, readers are provided with all the data they need to judge new claims concerning the fate of the Lost Colony.
Through a comprehensive analysis of historical records, archaeological discoveries, and cultural narratives, Ewen and Shields offer a nuanced perspective on the Roanoke mystery, inviting readers to critically assess the evidence and consider the complex interplay between history and myth. Their work underscores the challenges of uncovering definitive answers in historical investigations and highlights the enduring fascination with the story of the Lost Colony.