Season six of American Horror Story started off in a big way, with tons of teaser trailers, no 'real' clues and no full conformation of the cast list - we were literally left in the dark until the (very scary) first episode. And then things got even more mysterious, and not just because AOH is already secretive enough, but because we were left Googling the hell out of the latest theme. The real-life mystery of Roanoke, also known as ‘the lost colony.’
What exactly is Roanoke?
In 1587, 115 English settlers arrived on the North Carolina island of Roanoke. Until this, all that was on the island was the remnants of a failed settlement. The new arrivals found no trace of the previous settlements, apart from one single skeleton. The islanders got on with life, but soon discovered they needed reinforcements, so their leader John White returned to England. White was unable to return to the island due to bad weather until 1590, and when he did return not a single inhabitant was to be seen. They had all 'disappeared' only leaving two clues behind.
What happened next, and what does Croatoan mean?
When White returned, all that was left behind from the previous settlers were the words ‘Croatoan,’ carved in a fort’s gatepost, and ‘cro’ carved into a tree. Croatoan was the name of a nearby island, now called Hatteras Island, and a Native American village on the island.
Roanoke theories
There’s quite a few theories floating around, the most probable one being that the settlers just left. And given that they waited around for White for a few years, it’s more than likely. It’s thought that they went south to Hatteras Island, and carved the word ‘Croatoan’ in the gatepost to tell White where they were. Another is that they were killed by disease, which is less than likely as no bodies were found on the island. Some say everyone was killed by local Native Americans or Spanish pirates. A map belonging to John White, found through an archaeological dig, suggests the colonists separated and settled in different locations along the American mainland.
So, how does American Horror Story tie into the Roanoke theory?
Going to be completely honest here and say, we don’t have a bloody clue. The first episode pulled in a massive 10.9 million viewers and from what we can see it’s set in two time periods – but mainly in the present. One being formatted in documentary style, with Sarah Paulson and Cuba Gooding Jr. playing a couple who were haunted by spirits from the Roanoke colony. More is yet to be uncovered, but it's possible the second period could be in Roanoke times, and the two will interlink. The mystery continues...
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.