Archaeology & History

Ancient map gives clue to fate of lost colony

By T.K. Randall
May 5, 2012 ·  9 comments

Image Credit: Smallbones It's one of the most enduring mysteries in the history of the United States - what happened to the colony at Roanoke, Virginia? Experts in London now believe that closer examination of a 425-year-old map may provide the answer. An image on the aging map indicates a previously overlooked symbol for a fort at the confluence of the Roanoke and Chowan rivers, believed to be the destination of the colonists. The symbol itself had been covered by a patch and while it's unclear why, it is thought it may have been meant to indicate that there was more than just a fort at the site.

"We believe that this evidence provides conclusive proof that they moved westward up the Albemarle Sound to the confluence of the Chowan and Roanoke rivers," said author James Horn. "Their intention was to create a settlement. And this is what we believe we are looking at with this symbol - their clear intention, marked on the map."[!gad]It's one of the most enduring mysteries in the history of the United States - what happened to the colony at Roanoke, Virginia? Experts in London now believe that closer examination of a 425-year-old map may provide the answer. An image on the aging map indicates a previously overlooked symbol for a fort at the confluence of the Roanoke and Chowan rivers, believed to be the destination of the colonists. The symbol itself had been covered by a patch and while it's unclear why, it is thought it may have been meant to indicate that there was more than just a fort at the site.

"We believe that this evidence provides conclusive proof that they moved westward up the Albemarle Sound to the confluence of the Chowan and Roanoke rivers," said author James Horn. "Their intention was to create a settlement. And this is what we believe we are looking at with this symbol - their clear intention, marked on the map."

Source: Telegraph | Comments (9)

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