North Carolina Lost Colony - Researchers are looking to clues recently discovered on an old centuries map for insight into finally finding North Carolina's "Lost Colony."
Researchers are returning to a site in North Carolina and are optimistic about finding what exactly happened to the men, women and children who vanished from Roanoke Island in the 16th century.
"If we were finding this evidence at Roanoke Island, which is the well established site of Sir Walter Raleigh's colony, we would have no hesitation to say this is evidence of Sir Walter Raleigh's colonies," said Phil Evans, president of the First Colony Foundation.
"But because this is a new site and not associated with Sir Walter Raleigh, we have to hesitate and ask questions and learn more. It's not Roanoke Island. It's a new thing, and a new thing has to stand some tests."
First Colony Foundation and the British Museum found discovered the clues in 2012 on the "Virginea Pars" map of Virginia and North Carolina which was created in the 1580s by John White. However the map has been the property of the British Museum since 1866.
The map is said to have two attached patches - one seems to correct a mistake on the map while the other hid what looks like a fort in modern day Bertie County located in northeastern North Carolina. A third symbol also appears to be a different kind of fort is also drawn on the patch.
Reports indicate that both American and British researchers believe that the fort could be where the settlers moved to.
Reports indicate that researchers have not yet discovered the fort, but have discovered artifacts dating to the correct period of the settlers disappearance. However, these are early days and the discoveries could turn out to be from other people who settled in the area. So far broken pottery have been found.
More than a 100 English settlers at Sir Walters Raleigh's second colony were never seen again during the Anglo-Spanish war about three years after their last delivery of supplies from England. The only clue left on the site is the word "CROATOAN" etched to a post.
