Episode Summary:

In this episode of From The Void, host John Williamson sits down with renowned archaeologist and historian Dr. Mark Horton to investigate one of America’s most enduring mysteries: the disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

In 1587, over 100 English settlers vanished from Roanoke Island, leaving behind almost no trace—except for a cryptic word carved into a tree: Croatoan. Was the colony destroyed, absorbed into Indigenous communities, or did something even stranger happen?

Drawing on decades of research and excavation work, Dr. Horton sheds new light on the evidence, debunks popular myths, and shares the latest archaeological discoveries that might finally solve the puzzle. Together, they explore how this story has shaped American mythology—and why it still captures our imagination centuries later.

Step into the void as we trace the footsteps of a vanished colony.

Guest:

Dr. Mark Horton

•Professor of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage at the Royal Agricultural University

•Leading expert on early colonial settlements and transatlantic exploration

•Director of multiple archaeological projects investigating Roanoke, Hatteras Island, and early English settlements

•Advocate for integrating Indigenous histories and archaeological findings into the Roanoke narrative

Topics Covered:

•The original Roanoke expeditions and colonization attempts

•John White’s return and the cryptic Croatoan carving

•Indigenous tribes of the region and evidence of integration

•Environmental challenges, including drought and famine

•Recent archaeological discoveries on Hatteras Island

•Why the Roanoke story still matters today

Recommended Resources & Links:

•📚 Royal Agricultural University – Dr. Mark Horton Profile

•🌐 First Colony Foundation – Research on Roanoke

•📖 The Lost Colony and Hatteras Island by Scott Dawson (Arcadia Publishing)

•🏛️ National Park Service – Roanoke’s “Lost Colony”

•📰 Smithsonian Magazine – New Clues to the Fate of the Lost Colony

Connect with Dr. Mark Horton:

•📄 Academic Publications

•🏺 First Colony Foundation Updates

Connect with From The Void Podcast:

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