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Recent findings in North Carolina might solve a ‘Lost Colony’ mystery

Archaeologists have recently found two pottery pieces in North Carolina’s Roanoke Island, which in the 16th Century was the first English colony in the New World and suddenly disappeared, making it one of America’s biggest mysteries.

Researchers believe the two quarter-size white, brown and blue pieces might belong to a medicine maker jar used by the “Lost Colony” in the 16th Century.  The pieces were discovered buried near a mound believed to be an ancient fort.

Roanoke Island was, in the 16th Century, the first English colony in the New World and suddenly disappeared, making it one of America’s biggest mysteries. Image credit: North Wind Picture Archives / Alamy / Nat Geo

Previous to the findings, other pottery shards had been found nearby the old site, but they had a small size that prevented researchers from analyzing them and classifying them as artifacts used by the colony.

Eric Deetz, an archaeologist from the First Colony Foundation, made the discovery and identified them in the location. Deetz assured his excitement when finding the pieces and the significance they might have on history.

“It’s very small and fragile, yet a single piece is as good as a whole pot,” Eric Deetz announced to archaeologists and to the Huffington Post in a statement.

Pieces of a historical mystery

During the late 1580s John White, the governor of the first English colony located in the New World at Roanoke Island,  returned from a supply trip to England and suddenly find his whole province was missing.

White returned along with some men expecting to find his 100 member colony, and despite being no signs of violence or attacks, there was no one there.  White’s daughter Ellinor Dare was among the missing crowd, as well as his granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America.

Archaeologists have recently found two pottery pieces in North Carolina’s Roanoke Island, which researchers believe might belong to a medicine maker jar used by the “Lost Colony”. Photo credit: States Chronicle

On the deserted location, there was only one sign, carved into the palisade of the colony was the word “CROATOAN” which at the moment, made sense to White, who believed they went off to the Croatoan Island nearby. There were no signs of the colony in there.

Archaeologists and researchers have meant to discover what happened to the “Lost Colony” and solve this ancient mystery. Archaeologists, Deetz has confirmed the pieces found in the land are from the lost colony since they have the correct style and are in the right location.

“The pottery itself is a type of pottery which is a tin-glaze. This form was pretty much only used between the 1570s and the 1620s,” said Deetz to the Huffington Post in a statement.

Tests and evaluations still need to be made of the found pieces, to discover their origins and if they, in fact, belong to the Lost Colony.

Source: Huffington Post

Categories: Science
Maria Gabriela Méndez:
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