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Instructions:
1.) First, this CSI investigation seeks to provide students with the many
possibilities that could explain the story of the colonists at Roanoke. I
feel it is a good idea to start the activity front-loading the students that
this mystery still isn’t solved. This makes it more relevant to the kids,
and even makes them believe maybe they could be the ones to crack the
case.
2.) I recommend going over the opening page (the background and
mission) with the students. Then, I have the class read the opening
essay together to “set the stage” for what they will be learning about.
This can be done by having volunteers alternate paragraphs, you read
the whole section aloud, or have students read silently then debrief as a
class.
3.) Then, I typically have students work through each section in partners
or by themselves (based on the class) and complete the analytical
questions at the end of each section. I ALWAYS “time” my students, so I
will give 15 minutes for the first scenario, 10 minutes for the second, etc.
You will need to make adjustments based on your class and their ability.
4.) Once the packet has been worked through, students should complete
the picture book / graphic novel assignment. The rubric is the last page
in this activity. However, before this, it would be good to debrief with the
students to check for comprehension.
5.) Great discussion questions include:
- Which scenario do you feel is most likely? Why?
- What supports the theory that Indians killed the colonists?
What supports the theory that they didn’t?
(these questions can be changed up for each scenario)
- Why do you think this “case” has been so hard to crack?
What factors have contributed to the difficulty of this case?
-
What does current research say about this case?
(use the included news story)
© History with Mr. E
Top Secret
Top Secret
CSI: THE LOST COLONY OF ROANOKE
CSI
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
background: In 1587, 117 colonists departed England to set up a
colony at Roanoke Island. When a settler returned to the
island in 1590, everything had vanished. All people, animals,
and homes were gone.
Mission: It is your mission to find out what happened to the
colonists at Roanoke Island. Read through the following
information closely and carefully. Answer all questions
thoroughly in order to document all essential details to the
case.
Present Your Evidence: After you have analyzed each possible.
scenario, you will create a picture book that shows the clues
and evidence you have gathered. More information will be given
at a later time.
© History with Mr. E
All Materials in this Case File are Confidential
© History with Mr. E
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
Read carefully though this introduction to the case, detective!
The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island (Killed by Native
Americans, Disbanded, or Abducted by Aliens)
What happened to the 117 people who tried
to establish the first English settlement in
America?
On April 26, 1587, Governor John White and
117 colonists set sail from Portsmouth,
England, to the New World. Their goal was to
establish a new colony near Chesapeake Bay.
One of the colonists was White's daughter,
Elinor, who was married to a man named
Ananias Dare and was expecting a baby.
Two years earlier, an unsuccessful attempt
had been made to establish a settlement on
Roanoke Island. Sir Richard Grenville left
100 men on the island and returned to
England to get supplies. The colonists grew
tired of waiting for Grenville to return and
when Sir Francis Drake stopped at Roanoke
in June of 1586, they returned to England
with him. Grenville arrived on Roanoke two
weeks later with supplies and 15 more men.
The 15 were to to stay until reinforcements
could be brought from England.
When White and Company arrived on July
22, 1587, they found the island deserted and
the fort demolished. Only the bones of one
man were found.
Less than a month later, on August 18,
White's daughter gave birth to a girl named
Virginia - the first English child born in
North America.
White decided to return to England for
supplies, a trip he intended to last 6-8
months. In fact, it was almost three years
before White was able to return to Roanoke
Island. When he arrived, he found the
settlement deserted. The word "Croatoan"
was carved into a tree near the palisade
encircling the fort; the letters "CRO" were
found on another tree. (It was understood
that if the colonists had decided to leave the
island, they would leave a clue as to their
destination; if they were in danger, they
would add a cross to the sign.)
No cross was found carved into the tree, so it
was assumed that the settlers had relocated
to Croatoan Island, 50 miles to the south.
White wanted to sail to Croatoan to continue
the search but he was prevented from doing
so by bad weather. He returned to England.
What happened to the members of the Lost
Colony? There are several theories that have
been put forward to explain the
disappearance:
One such theory is that the settlers were
killed by Native Americans. Local tribal
members had welcomed the settlers and had
helped them to plant corn and fish using a
weir. Keep in mind that no cross was carved
into the tree, indicating danger, and no
bodies, bones or burned-out buildings were
found.
Another more far-fetched theory is that this
is a case of alien abductions, but no concrete
evidence has been found to support this.
The most accepted theory is that the settlers
did relocate to Croatoan Island and may have
eventually become members of the tribe.
They also could have eventually settled in
the Chesapeake Bay area or near the Chowan
River.
But since no physical evidence has ever been
found, all we are left with are theories as to
the fate of the members of the Lost Colony.
Source: Created and adapted from information at http://www.history.com/
news/ask-history/what-happened-to-the-lost-colony-of-roanoke
© History with Mr. E
Detective - examine these maps to familiarize yourself with the location!
To give you a sense
of where Roanoke
Island is, examine
this map to the left.
Because early
Europe (in the
it makes sense that
they would choose
to settle on the
would become the
United States.
Here is a close-up view of the eastern
coast of North Carolina. Notice the
collection of islands that make up the
eastern coast. These islands are called
the Outer Banks. Roanoke Island is
located inside the Outer Banks.
Detective, there is one thing you must
remember: few primary source documents
or artifacts exist from this time period.
However, I was able to get my hands on
this map for you! This map was created by
the early settlers at Roanoke. I have
circled Roanoke Island on the map for you!
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 1:
ROANOKE COLONISTS MOVED TO CROATOAN ISLAND
History is filled with mysteries, but perhaps none is
more interesting than the whereabouts of the
Roanoke settlers who history has nicknamed the
“lost colonists.” Many theories abound as to what
happened to the settlers. In many cases though,
the simplest explanation is often the correct one.
There are only a couple clues to work with, and that
might be all we need to solve this mystery. When
John White left the settlement in 1587 to gather
more supplies White and the colonists had a
general method for communication established.
The colonists were told to carve the name of the
place they were going on a tree if they ever left the
area; they were also told to carve a cross if they
were in danger. When White returned in 1590, he found the word “CROATOAN” carved on a tree and the
word “CRO” carved on the only remnant left behind by the settlers, a fence post. No cross was ever found.
John White and his crew searched the nearby island but there was no other trace of the colonists. Based
on the clues, White himself believed the colonists traveled to the nearby island they called Croatoan
(modern day Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks). According to his records, White was relieved the
colonists were safe. He believed they found refuge with a man named Mateo. The settlers had met Mateo
when they first landed in 1584. Ironically, Mateo actually spoke English after traveling to England on two
separate occasions. John White also wrote in his diary that, after giving up the search and starting their
return to England, he saw columns of smoke coming from Croatoan Island. A fierce storm prevented him
from exploring further, but he wrote that he believed it was proof the colonists were safe and well.
No major discoveries were made regarding the fate of the lost colonists for the next four hundred years. In
1993, however, Hurricane Emily struck the Outer Banks and caused record flooding. This massive storm
ripped apart 10 feet of soil and sludge in some parts of Hatteras Island (the island that used to be known as
Croatoan Island) and unearthed several more clues that support the theory that the colonists relocated
here. Until this time, only Croatoan artifacts were discovered. However, after the storm surge from
Hurricane Emily, many European artifacts were found as well. Among those found include metal pots and
pans, lead bullets, nails, bricks, a gun that dates to 1583, and a gold ring with a family insignia on it.
European skeletons have also been found on Hatteras Island, however experts have been unable to
connect the skeletal remains with anyone on the Roanoke expedition.
What do you think, detective? Does the evidence of the tree and post carvings, the history of Mateo, and
the European artifacts discovered after Hurricane Emily point to this theory being the likeliest one? Or do
you believe that there are other explanations for the
fate of the lost colonists?
© History with Mr. E
(ring from Croatoan Island)
(lead bullets)
(brass buttons)
(pots and pans)
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 2:
THE COLONISTS WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE OR KILLED
BY THE SPANISH
Saint Augustine was a colony Spain had in
the New World. This colony is located on the
eastern coast of what is now known as the
state of Florida, USA. Spanish soldiers who
were living there in 1588 heard reports that
England had established a new colony in the
New World. The English were at war with
Spain and if the location of their settlement
got out, the Spanish would find and kill the
colonists. The Spanish had already killed off a
French attempt to settle down in Florida
back in 1562, killing over 130 men.
Spain knew that this English colony was
located north somewhere near Chesapeake
Bay. The Spanish sent their ships up the coast
to destroy the English colonists. The English
colonists were seen by the Spanish ships as
they sailed their small boats south from
Roanoke Island to live with the Croatoan tribe
on the nearby Croatoan Island. The Spanish
ships attacked the English colonists and took
them hostage. They may have killed them. This
is the reason why English settler's boats were
missing when John White returned in 1590 to
Roanoke.
English ships and the Spanish Armada, August 1588.
The fear of Spanish attack was certainly a real one.
In 1607, the first English colony known as
Jamestown was constructed along the James
River. It was built far up the James River, far out of
site, for this very reason. The English feared that
the roaming Spanish ships would spot the colony
and launch an attack. This would keep all of the
New World as a Spanish possession.
Roanoke Island
Croatoan Island
It is 540 miles from
Roanoke Island to
Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 3:
THE COLONISTS STARVED TO DEATH OR WERE
LOST AT SEA
Others speculate that the colonists simply
gave up waiting, tried to return to England
on their own, and perished in the attempt.
When Governor White left in 1587, he left
the colonists with a pinnace (a small boat)
for exploration of the coast or removal of
the colony to the mainland. Another claim
suggests that, with the region in drought (a
period of very low rainfall), the colony must
have suffered a massive food shortage.
The researchers concluded that the settlers
of the Lost Colony landed at Roanoke
Island in the summer of the worst growingseason drought in 800 years. "This drought
persisted for 3 years, from 1587 to 1589,
and is the driest 3-year episode in the entire
800-year reconstruction," the team
reported in the journal Science. A map
shows that "the Lost Colony drought
affected the entire southeastern United
States but was particularly severe in the
Tidewater region near Roanoke [Island]."
The authors suggested that the Croatoan
who were shot and killed by the colonists
may have been scavenging the abandoned
village for food as a result of the drought.
Do not underestimate how difficult it would
be to survive in a faraway land without
adequate supplies or help. When the
Jamestown colony started in 1607, settlers
experienced a similar drought and endured
a “starving time” in the winter of
1609-1610. As the Jamestown residents and
the local Powhatan struggled for survival,
many clashes took place which limited the
colonists ability to get help. Colonists were
forced to eat their horses, dogs, rats, and
even the leather from their boots. Nearly
90% of the colonists died in this event. This
is only show that if it happened at
Jamestown roughly 20 years later, is it
possible at Roanoke?
© History with Mr. E
Roanoke Island
Croatoan Island
10 miles
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 4:
THE COLONISTS WERE KILLED BY NATIVE
AMERICANS
Before the second attempt to establish a
colony, the English were first led by Ralph
Lane to establish a presence in North
America. Things went well until Sir Ralph
Lane, the colony commander, angered the
native people with his harsh policies. They
fought back, killing one of the settlers. The
rest of the colonists were forced to leave
the colony, but the native people would
not forget.
Several explorers who helped build the
Ralph Lane colony returned to check on
their progress. Because of the tense
relationship with the local population, the
colonists had left, so when the explorers
arrived, they did not find anyone. However,
what they did find was interesting. They
found remnants of one dead body, killed by
tomahawk and scalp wounds. The body
was of a European man and was found in
several pieces, in several different places,
giving the thought that the native people
tried to hide the remains. This brings up
other questions. Why hide the remains?
The English were clearly in a weakened
state and in no way could they successfully
defeat the much stronger native people.
Perhaps they attempted to hide the
remains because they were also low on
supplies and did not wish to risk a larger
war event?
In any event, from this past history, we
believe that the native people could be
violent. We also know they were capable of
hiding the bodies. After what the residents
of the Ralph Lane colony did to the native
people, it is easy to believe they would seek
revenge. When the leader of the Lost
Colony, John White, returned to England
for more supplies, is it possible the native
people would attack the second group of
colonists? Remember: when he returned
several years later, all houses and forts had
disappeared. That would be more than
enough time to tear everything down,
burn, or otherwise destroy, all the
evidence, and erase virtually all traces of
the Roanoke colony.
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 5:
THE COLONISTS WERE KILLED BY A DISEASE
It is true that the English had brought over
many diseases. However, there were no bodies
found and the houses had disappeared. The
only body that was ever found was shortly
after the Ralph Lane colony left for England.
No bodies were ever recovered from the Lost
Colony expedition.
While most diseases were brought from the
Old World to the New World, there were
several diseases that future colonists would
die from, including dysentery, cholera, and
“Burning Fever.”
SCENARIO 6:
THE COLONY WAS DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE
Another possible theory is that the Roanoke Colony was
destroyed by a massive hurricane. Remember, in 1993
Hurricane Emily hit the Outer Banks and unearthed so
much land that a massive collection of artifacts were
discovered. Is it possible a similar hurricane hit the
island? Emily was a category 3 hurricane and the state
averages one of those every 4-7 years. Only one
category 4 hurricane ever hit North Carolina, and that
was Hurricane Hazel in 1954 (it killed 469 people in Haiti
and 95 in the United States).
Only five hurricanes reached land in the United
States as a category 5; none of these reached North
Carolina but two hit Florida, and a simple nudge
north could have clobbered the Outer Banks. Such a
storm, without the advantage of modern storm
protections, could have washed away the colonists
and destroyed all of the homes and forts. However,
there is a huge problem with this theory. See if you
© History with Mr. E
can find why this theory is very unlikely.
© History with Mr. E
NEW EVIDENCE DISCOVERED IN MAY, 2012
Experts from the First Colony Foundation
(they study the Roanoke colonists) and
the British Museum in London (they own
John Whites‘s drawings and maps, like
the one to the right) issued a statement
on May 4, 2012. They believe that some
important details on White’s map of the
Carolina coast have been ignored. Those
details, they believe, give us a huge clue
in determining the fate of the lost
colonists.
Notice the ship in the left-center of the
map. Then, look to the left of the ship
where the river forks into two. Do you
see the slightly discolored “patch” on
land right where the river forks? I’ve
zoomed in on the location in the middle
map below. This huge breakthrough all
began when researcher Brent Lane
noticed the discoloration and began to
ask the question “What is underneath
the patch?” So, researchers decided to
take a look.
Using ultraviolet lighting, researchers
were able to see underneath the patch
without the fear of damaging the original
map. What they found underneath is
shocking - and raises some questions of
its own! Researchers have discovered a
drawing of a much larger fort. This fort
was entirely unknown until it was
discovered on this map. Now, what can
this tell us about the whereabouts of the
“lost colonists”?
Researchers believe this fort is a sign as
to where the colonists traveled to.
According to White’s diaries, he knew
the settlers had planned to move "50
miles into the mainland.” He also clearly
states that the colonists planned to
establish a more permanent settlement
further inland. Until now, most
historians believed the colonists had
traveled south to live with the
Croatoans, but the discovery of this fort
offers the first new clue in centuries
about the 95 settlers. Unfortunately, the
location of this fort is currently owned
by private companies and part is
underneath a golf course, so excavation
will not be happening anytime soon.
Now, detective, here is where we need
your help. Think about how these new
discoveries impact the case.
Source: Created and adapted from information at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/us/map-markings-offer-clues-to-lost-colony.html
© History with Mr. E
SCENARIO 1: ROANOKE COLONISTS MOVED TO CROATOAN ISLAND
1.) Think about the European artifacts that were supposedly unearthed by Hurricane Emily. What other ways could these items have
been found at the island?
2.) Examine the picture to the right very closely. What is happening in this picture? Document three ideas.
3.) Look closely at this picture and review the evidence from Station 1. Does this picture
help prove or disprove the belief that the colonists went to Croatoan Island?
4.) Other than being written by the colonists, are there any other explanations as to how the
words “CRO” and “CROATOAN” appeared? List anything that is even remotely possible!
This image is titled “Indians Round A Fire” and was
sketched by settler John White, circa 1585-1586
5.) How likely is it that this scenario happened? Explain your answer. (Remember, you are a
detective so every detail matters!)
SCENARIO 2: THE COLONISTS WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE OR KILLED
BY THE SPANISH
1.) If Spain did kidnap or kill the colonists, they would have had to travel 540 miles. If they could travel 70 miles a day, how long would it
have taken them to arrive at Roanoke Island? What about 100 miles a day?
© History with Mr. E
© History with Mr. E
2.) Why would Spain have done this? (Read carefully detective!)
3.) Think of the journey the Spanish would have taken. What challenges would they have faced?
4.) How likely is it that this scenario happened? Explain your answer.
SCENARIO 3: COLONISTS STARVED TO DEATH OR LOST AT SEA
1.) Use the scale to determine distance. How far would the colonists had to travel IF they chose to travel to Croatoan Island? Show your
work in the space provided.
2.) Is it possible they would have gotten lost in their journey? Why or Why not?
3.) What other problems might they have run into on this journey?
SCENARIO 4: THE COLONISTS WERE KILLED BY NATIVE AMERICANS
1.) Examine the image on scenario 4. What activities does the drawing above seem to be depicting?
2.) What can you deduce about the tribe’s relationship with outside groups?
© History with Mr. E
3). After reading and looking at this picture, do you think native people killed the colonists? Why or Why not?
SCENARIO 5: THE COLONISTS WERE KILLED BY A DISEASE
1.) On a scale from 1 (least likely) to 10 (most likely), how likely do you think the “disease theory” is? Please explain your answer.
SCENARIO 6: THE COLONY WAS DESTROYED BY A HURRICANE
1.) On a scale from 1 (least likely) to 10 (most likely), how likely do you think the “hurricane theory” is? Please explain your answer.
* * NEW EVIDENCE **
1.) Let’s say for a second that the fort that appears on this map never actually existed. Then, why would White draw it on the map?
2.) Think about who is paying for John White’s voyages to the Americas: Queen Elizabeth I of England. She is investing money to
hopefully find riches in the New World. Would White have reason to say a fort is there, when in fact it is not? Explain yourself!
3.) Now, let’s assume the fort did exist and the colonists traveled
there. Why would White cover the fort with a patch?
4.) What do you think about this new discovery? How does the
discovery of this fort impact your thinking on what happened?
© History with Mr. E
© History with Mr. E
IN YOUR WORDS...
DIRECTIONS: In the space provided, explain what you think happened to the lost colonists. Use
everything you have learned in this investigation to form your opinion. You must
support your opinion with facts, details, and evidence from these case files.
© History with Mr. E
THE LOST COLONY
- A PICTURE BOOK / GRAPHIC NOVEL ASSIGNMENT You have three options for your assignment:
1. Focus on ONE possible scenario that could have
occurred and tell a detailed, in-depth story of what
happened.
OR
2. Did you come up with a “different” theory as to what
happened to the Lost Colonists? If so, feel free to
create your story based around your theory. Be sure
to incorporate the evidence and details that we
know of!
OR
3. Write a story that covers ALL the possible scenarios
and “what you think happened” in brief detail
Rubric:
________ / _________: An accurate story that uses evidence and specific details from class
________ / _________: At least 6 pages (including cover page) with pictures, dialogue, and color
________ / _________: Creativity / Attention to Detail (time, effort, care, etc.)
© History with Mr. E