Without evidence of the Roanoke Colony's relocation or destruction, speculation about there fate has endured since the 1590s

The matter has developed a reputation among academics for attracting obsession and sensationalism with little scolastic benefit.

Conjecture about the lost colonists typically begins with the known facts about the case. When John White returned to the colony in 1590, there was no sign of a battle or a withdrawal under duress, although the site was fortified.

There were no human remains or graves reported in the area, suggesting that everyone was alive when they left.