Lost Not Found: An Analysis of the European Artifacts at the Cape Creek (31DR1) Site

Abstract

The Cape Creek site has been proposed as the location of the 1587 Lost Colony of Roanoke. The artifacts purportedly signify a process of assimilation between European colonists and the local Native population, specifically the Croatoan. This raises the question: did these artifacts originate from items brought by the Lost Colonists themselves, or are they indicative of common trade materials? Studying Native American sites and their European trade items can provide insights into North America during the contact period and how different societies used these items. A comparative artifact analysis of two Native American occupation sites (Amity and Fredricks sites) along with a European occupation site (Jamestown) aids in interpreting the presence of European artifacts recovered from the Cape Creek (31Dr1) site as a result of trade rather than European occupation per se.