Empire Podcast Summary: Episode 272. "Solving The Mystery of America's Lost Colony"

Release Date: July 15, 2025
Hosts: William Duranpool and Anita Anand
Guest: Mark Horton, Archaeologist

Introduction

In Episode 272 of Empire, hosts William Duranpool and Anita Anand delve into one of America's oldest unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony. Joining them is Mark Horton, an esteemed archaeologist who has recently uncovered groundbreaking evidence that challenges long-held beliefs about the fate of the colony's settlers.

Recalling Previous Episodes and Setting the Stage [00:44 - 03:33]

Anita Anand reminisces about a previous episode featuring Mark Horton, highlighting his engaging storytelling and the humorous perspectives he brought to the tragic tale of the Darien scheme, the Scots' failed attempt to establish an empire. This sets a lighthearted yet respectful tone for the episode.

Anita Anand [02:31]: "I had a heaving post bag from people off the north who said, why are you finding this so bloody funny? It's a great tragedy. What's wrong with you? But you said it funny."

William Duranpool [03:05]: "The immediate background to this attempt by Sir Walter Raleigh..."

Background on Roanoke and Historical Context [03:33 - 07:40]

William provides a comprehensive overview of the Roanoke Colony, detailing Sir Walter Raleigh’s efforts to establish an English settlement in North America. He juxtaposes the Victorian narrative of inevitable British dominance with the historical reality of numerous early setbacks faced by the British in their imperial pursuits.

William Duranpool [03:33]: "This is the background against which we're going to be talking about Mark's new discoveries, which completely rewrite that story..."

Mark Horton explains the traditional story of the colony's disappearance, marked by the enigmatic word "Croatoan" carved into a tree, and the mysterious absence of the settlers when the relief fleet arrived.

Mark Horton [07:05]: "You would have thought this founding story about America, historians, archaeologists, would actually go to Croatoan island... So why did it take, as it were, till the 21st century for an archaeologist to go and look for where they might have actually ended up?"

Challenging the Conventional Narrative: Racism and Historical Revisionism [07:40 - 19:35]

Anita Anand discusses how Victorian-era historian George Bancroft's racist interpretations influenced the perception of the Roanoke disappearance, perpetuating stereotypes of Native Americans as savages responsible for the annihilation of the settlers.

Anita Anand [06:20]: "...a study in, one might say, racism, because it has every racist trope in it..."

Mark Horton elaborates on the influence of Herbert E. Bolton, a prominent Berkeley historian, who perpetuated historical frauds to support racist ideologies and the concept of Manifest Destiny. Bolton orchestrated forgeries like Drake's plate of brass and the infamous Darestone, undermining authentic archaeological research.

Mark Horton [19:22]: "He was a trickster and a hoaxer... he was doing this because there was a rival historian, a Mexican historian, who was claiming that Drake hadn't landed in San Francisco at all, but up in Oregon."

Anita Anand passionately criticizes Bolton’s actions, emphasizing their lasting impact on American foundational myths and contemporary racist ideologies.

Anita Anand [20:47]: "You say trickster, I say absolute fraudulent shit. I mean, this is a man who's just trying to mislead academe..."

Archaeological Investigations and Breakthroughs [19:35 - 38:18]

Mark Horton details his involvement with the Croatoan Archaeological Society, a community-driven project initiated in 2008 to investigate the true fate of the Roanoke settlers. Highlighting the meticulous excavation methods, including sieve techniques to recover every artifact, Horton emphasizes the discovery of European artifacts in Native American midden sites at Cape Creek Village.

Mark Horton [30:04]: "We have really good evidence for trade because what we found was three coin weights dated 1643..."

Anita Anand and William Duranpool guide listeners through the significance of these findings, such as European-style nails and hammerscale—evidence of metalworking that cannot be explained by mere trade and suggests active settlement and assimilation.

Anita Anand [35:19]: "I've written down a thing which I need to ask about, hammer scale. Can you tell me what a hammer scale is and why it's significant?"

Mark Horton [37:18]: "Hammer scale is the bits of metal that come off when you strike iron... It cannot be traded because this is hammer scale as a result of smithing activities."

Unmasking Historical Conspiracies [27:00 - 44:17]

The discussion shifts to the modern revelations of historical frauds orchestrated by Herbert Bolton and his collaborators. Mark Horton explains how Melissa Darby's research unearthed manipulated evidence that distorted the true history of the Roanoke Colony, revealing a deliberate attempt to uphold racist narratives and erase the possibility of settler assimilation with Native Americans.

Mark Horton [25:43]: "It's a conspiracy, fraud... an extraordinary historical conspiracy."

Anita Anand draws parallels between these historical manipulations and contemporary issues, such as the influence of right-wing ideologies and movements like MAGA, which continue to propagate distorted historical narratives.

Anita Anand [24:08]: "This is not some distant bit of sort of racist history. This is something that still sits at the foundational myths of America and Trump's ideology..."

Current Findings and Their Implications [38:18 - 44:17]

Mark Horton shares the latest archaeological discoveries, including significant quantities of hammerscale and European-style artifacts dated to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. These findings provide tangible evidence that the Roanoke settlers not only survived but also engaged in metalworking and possibly built ships to return to England, akin to the Sea Venture survivors in Bermuda.

Mark Horton [39:34]: "So the presence of metalworking in the late 16th, early 17th century... the presence of hammerscale... this is like a smoking gun."

The hosts discuss the challenges of gaining acceptance for these findings within the academic community, which remains resistant due to entrenched racist perspectives and institutional inertia.

Anita Anand [28:43]: "But on what ground? So let's just do the thing that I do, which is let's look at the other side."

Mark Horton emphasizes the necessity of disseminating this revised history through documentaries and publications to reshape the national narrative.

Mark Horton [44:17]: "We did a documentary... but that was pre hammer scale. So I do think that time is now..."

Conclusion and Future Directions [44:17 - 45:20]

Anita Anand expresses her astonishment and excitement over the revelations shared by Mark Horton, underscoring the significance of these discoveries in rewriting America's origin story. The episode concludes with a preview of future discussions on related topics, such as the Panama Canal, highlighting the ongoing impact of historical research on understanding imperial legacies.

Anita Anand [45:20]: "It's an extraordinary story, and we feel kind of privileged to have you on so soon after the event to talk about these things."

William Duranpool [45:20]: "And goodbye from me, William Durimple."

Key Takeaways

1. Rewriting Roanoke's Fate: Recent archaeological evidence suggests that the Roanoke settlers may not have been wiped out by Native Americans but instead assimilated into local tribes, challenging long-held racist narratives.

2. Historical Fraud Exposed: Mark Horton’s research reveals that prominent historians like Herbert Bolton fabricated evidence to support racist ideologies, significantly distorting America's colonial history.

3. Significant Artifacts Found: The discovery of European-style nails, hammerscale, and other artifacts in Native American middens strongly indicates active settlement and assimilation rather than eradication.

4. Ongoing Struggles in Academia: Despite compelling evidence, institutional resistance rooted in racism impedes the acceptance of these new findings, necessitating broader dissemination through media and publications.

5. Impact on Modern Narratives: Uncovering these truths is crucial for dismantling foundational myths that have perpetuated racial superiority and continue to influence contemporary societal issues.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Anita Anand [02:31]: "I had a heaving post bag from people off the north who said, why are you finding this so bloody funny? It's a great tragedy. What's wrong with you? But you said it funny."

• Mark Horton [07:05]: "You would have thought this founding story about America, historians, archaeologists, would actually go to Croatoan island... So why did it take, as it were, till the 21st century for an archaeologist to go and look for where they might have actually ended up?"

• Anita Anand [06:20]: "...a study in, one might say, racism, because it has every racist trope in it..."

• Mark Horton [19:22]: "He was a trickster and a hoaxer... he was doing this because there was a rival historian, a Mexican historian..."

• Anita Anand [35:19]: "I've written down a thing which I need to ask about, hammer scale. Can you tell me what a hammer scale is and why it's significant?"

• Mark Horton [37:18]: "Hammer scale is the bits of metal that come off when you strike iron... It cannot be traded because this is hammer scale as a result of smithing activities."

• Mark Horton [44:17]: "We did a documentary... but that was pre hammer scale. So I do think that time is now..."

This episode of Empire masterfully intertwines meticulous archaeological research with a critical examination of historical narratives, uncovering layers of truth obscured by racism and deliberate misinformation. Mark Horton’s revelations not only shed new light on the fate of the Roanoke settlers but also challenge the very foundation of America's historical identity, urging listeners to re-evaluate the stories that have shaped the nation's self-image.