Have archaeologists found the Lost Colony?

After 400 years of searching, we may have found the Lost Colony.

First Colony Foundation President Phil Evans addressed a small crowd in Wilson Library on the UNC campus on Tuesday with news that archaeologists may have found what John White lost when he left the colonists behind to return to England in the late 1580’s.

“We believe we are now getting, for the first time in over 400 years,” he says, “some solid, credible, historical and archaeological evidence as to where some of them went when they left Roanoke Island, before John White [returned] in 1590.

“We have gone from known to unknown to a new known.”

Archaeologists have focused their efforts on an area around Salmon Creek, in present-day Bertie County, over the last three years.

Maps showing area around Salmon Creek in present-day Bertie County where search has focused. (Photo via Blake Hodge)

First Colony Foundation Curator Bly Straube says many items have been found that date back to the colonial era, but they were also in use for centuries after the original colony was lost.

But there were a few items uncovered that fit the puzzle of time in such a way that it points to a strong possibility that it could have been the colonists – including fringe from garments.

“Sometimes, especially gentlemen, could have up to 100 of these [laces] attached to their clothing,” she says. “And, as you can imagine, this kind of things gets knocked off and you lose it pretty easily.

“By about the 1630’s, that’s no longer the fashion. You don’t use laces anymore.”

She says that indicates these colonists were near Salmon Creek in the very early 1600’s.

But if you need more convincing than the fashion statements of the colonial era, FCF Vice President of Research Nick Luccketti says the presence of pieces border ware and other clay pots that were found indicate the colonial establishment pre-dated many other colonists in the region.

“What we have found is after about 1625 the amount of border ware on these sites is virtually nonexistent,” he says.

Luccketti says they have excavated 10 times as much of the border ware pottery pieces from the small area near Salmon Creek as has been found on any other sites in North Carolina.

After 400 years of mystery surrounding the lost colony, it appears we are a giant step closer to finding the colonists.

Archaeologists Believe They Have Found Remnants of the Lost Colony

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