The Dare Stones

By Crusader1307

Perhaps one of American History's most enduring ''Mysteries'', is that of the fate of what has become known as The ''Lost Colony of Roanoke'' (North Carolina). An early ''New World'' Colony of England's in America - it was founded in 1585. By 1587, The Colony was in desperate shape. By 1590, when Supply Ships finally came, all trace of the several hundred Colonist's was gone, save for a cryptic message scrawled on a Tree - the word ''CROATOAN''. MANY theories  (both rational and several not so), have been brought forth over the centuries. To date, no one conclusive one is excepted. But first in our Story, a brief historical background. The Colony predated the more famous Jamestown Colony (Virginia) by nearly 15 years. England was in a rush to establish it's own Colonies in America to counter France and Spain. As is known, such Colonies were filled with strife and danger. Unknown lands, hostile Native American Tribes and difficulties in establishing sustainable crops for harvest - added to bitter Winter's, made it a rather unattractive alternative to life in a Europe suffering from endless Wars and Political - not mention religious strife. Buit still, many braved the task to establish Themselves in a ''New World''.

The Roanoke Colony did not far so well. Winter killed off most of the elderly and very young. Constant attacks by Native Americans meant lack of wildlife to hunt or crops to plant. They relieved solely on re-supply from England. But even in this, issue were abound. The North and Mid-Atlantic Oceans were treacherous. Only a ''small window'' of opportunity was available yearly to traverse The Sea. Often, it did take nearly a full year to gather supplies and funds to secure an expedition. But a starving Roanoke would wait. That is until a series of unseasonable storms and several Wars stopped any re-supply around 1587. In 1590, Ships arrived to find nothing. Most of he settlement was gone...and other than s few graves...no sign of the Colonists. Perhaps, it was thought, They tried to re-establish a foothold farther into the ''wilds of North Carolina''. That was when the mysterious missive ''CROATOAN'' was found carved into a Tree. The word was not of Native American or European origins. England would not try to colonize again until 1607 - when they were more successful with Jamestown Colony, in Virginia.

Over the centuries, people tried to determine the fate of The Colony (if any). some pointed to Native American massacres (which were common). In years, contact and subjugation of many of these Tribes, yielded even less answers. Of the most likely Tribes to attack and harass The Colonists - their ''oral Histories'' stated that it was not They who destroyed Them. Many centuries later, Scientists and Researchers point to the several Regional Tribal descendants who ''sported'' either ''Blue or Green'' eye coloring - a trait NOT indicative of Native American DNA. Some cited that this was proof of acclimation of possible survivors of The Roanoke Colony. But much of this was put off to much later interactions with Europeans.

In the 1930, a strange and at first amazing discovery came to light. a flattened stone was found in Georgia which had a series of inscriptions carved into it's face. This along with obvious symbolism (images), only someone from a European background could have carved. Of the speculated Author, the consistent  carved initials of ''ED'' appear over and over. The stone was purchased by The University of Georgia, whose Historian and Archaeologist's proclaimed was none other that Eleanor Dare, oldest Daughter of Governor Dare of The Roanoke Colony! At last, proof. But then our Tale takes a strange path. Whereas the amazing story made National headlines, and attracted the interest of the World renowned Smithsonian Institution, a Georgia Farmer came forth. He claimed that the stone found was actually from His property. Further, He had ''found more'' stone....47 to be exact. The carved stones spelled out a tragic and harrowing tale of what really happened to The Colonists.

But in the 1940s, closer examination of the stones - now known as The ''Dare Stones'' - yielded a very real flaw. It was determined the language was NOT what was then known as ''Old'' or ''Elizabethan'' English. Similar, but several ''modernisms'' caused an even closer look into the method of carving the stone inscriptions. This too was determined to have been done with ''modern tools''. In short, a Hoax. The Farmer, who made a tidy fortune selling the stones to The University claimed under pressure, that he carved them Himself (even implicating several Historians of The University Faculty). The discredited stones were (and are) stored in a Research Basement on Campus. But of course, something else would ''surface'', much, much later.

In 2012, the original stone (Number 1), which started the ''craze'' was re-examined with more advanced techniques and equipment. This stone was determined to be quite possibly- REAL. The use of language is correct as is the few symbols. Even the method used (tool), shows no signs of modern equipment. But due to the overall belief in forgery of the original examination, no One will take the more modern findings....seriously.

The Tale that unfolds is believable. According to ''Eleanor'', after several years of no re-supply, what little animals were left (horses, cows - even dogs), were eaten. She even alludes to possible ''cannibalism''. The harsh Winter and a final Native American attack on The Colony caused her and the few dozen survivors to flee for help (possibly from French or Spanish Colonies. But these were several hundred miles away by foot. During the trek, They were again  attacked by hostile Forces. Almost all of the survivors were killed. Those that lived, were - as was custom with many Tribes - were taken as Slaves. In time, perhaps - They would be acclimated into The Tribe as Members. Those living were by now, hundreds of miles away from the former Colony in what would be the ''wild frontier'' of early American for MANY hundreds of more years. It is thought that Dare carved and left the missive which, as is carved - IF found, to ''bring to any European'' for delivery to ''Her Father''.