# The colonists died on or near Roanoke of hunger, disease or attack, or were lost at sea trying to reach…

> Still possible: The colonists died on or near Roanoke of hunger, disease or attack, or were lost at sea trying to reach England.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke/answers/ANS0CQCCB8W6M9R/the-colonists-died-on-or-near-roanoke-of-hunger-disease-or  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Lost Colony of Roanoke](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke)[What happened to the colonists left on Roanoke Island in 1587?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke/questions/QST0CQCC6W858JF/what-happened-to-the-colonists-left-on-roanoke-island-in)Answer

Answer · Lost Colony of Roanoke

# The colonists died on or near Roanoke of hunger, disease or attack, or were lost at sea trying to reach…

The colonists died on or near Roanoke of hunger, disease or attack, or were lost at sea trying to reach England.

**Still possible** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** Its tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Graves or remains of the colonists near the settlement.
- Signs of a sudden end at the site.

## What would rule it out

- A well-dated English settlement elsewhere with the colonists' material.

## Evidence 1 for · 1 against

[1587–1589 was the most extreme drought in 800 years in the regional tree rings.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke/evidence/EVD0CQCCBGP32E8/15871589-was-the-most-extreme-drought-in-800-years-in-the)

Established

FOR

[The houses were taken down and no cross of distress was carved, implying an orderly departure.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke/evidence/EVD0CQCCBRG3N0A/the-houses-were-taken-down-and-no-cross-of-distress-was)

Established

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[What happened to the colonists left on Roanoke Island in 1587?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-colony-roanoke/questions/QST0CQCC6W858JF/what-happened-to-the-colonists-left-on-roanoke-island-in)

Most likelyThe colony split; a small party went to Croatoan to watch for ships and the main body moved inland

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The colonists died on or near Roanoke of hunger, disease or attack, or were lost at sea trying to reach… [Answer ANS0CQCCB8W6M9R]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CQCCB8W6M9R
```

Key

**ANS** 0CQCCB8W6M9R

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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