The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke

The colony of Roanoke, on the banks of modern-day North Carolina, was formed under Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587. Three years later, a rescue mission discovered that the settlement had vanished. Since the disappearance of these 115 English colonists, Roanoke has befuddled archaeologists, induced folklore, and galvanized conspiracy theories. Lawler (Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road??) presents an armchair travelog, historiographical review, and cultural assessment that begins with descriptions of the colony's settlement, archaeological fights for survival, and interactions with the Native Americans. From there, Lawler uses both British and American archives to decode maps and learn as much as possible from scant archaeological evidence of the colony's existence. The final parts of the book analyze the cultural significance of the lost community within a broader historical context, focusing on immigration and the dangers of nativism.