finding the First dare stone
On an early fall morning in 1937, a tourist who had been driving along the North Carolina-Virginia border found a 21-pound stone with peculiar markings on its surface. He brought his strange finding to Emory University for help. Never could he have guessed what the scientists at Emory University would tell him; this stone, if authentic, was a primary account from Roanoke resident Eleanor Dare of what happened to the lost colony.
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Who was Eleanor Dare?
Side 1Ananias Dare &
Virginia Went Hence Unto Heaven 1591 Anye Englishman Shew John White Govr Via |
What story did she tellEleanor’s story depicts a tragic story beginning shortly after her father, Governor John White left for England.She writes that during the first two years, the colonists suffered from illness and were at war with neighboring tribes. Eventually, less than half of the original colonissts were left. The tragedy did not end there, however. The local tribes attacked and killed all, but seven of the remaining residents. Among those murdered were Ananias Dare and Virginia Dare.
Side 2Father Soone After You
Goe for England Wee Cam Hither / Onlie Misarie & Warre Tow Yeere / Above Halfe Deade ere Tow Yeere More From Sickenes Beine Foure & Twentie / Salvage with Message of Shipp Unto Us / Smal Space of Time they Affrite of Revenge Rann Al Awaye / Wee Bleeve it Nott You / Soone After Ye Salvages Faine Spirits Angrie / Suddaine Murther Al Save Seaven / Mine Childe / Ananais to Slaine wth Much Misarie / Burie Al Neere Foure Myles Easte This River Uppon Small Hil / Names Writ Al Ther On Rocke / Putt This Ther Alsoe / Salvage Shew This Unto You & Hither Wee Promise You to Give Greate Plentie Presents EWD |
Faulty Evidence?
After the first Dare Stone was discovered, the local University put out a reward for anyone who found and turned in others. This took place during the Great Depression and shortly thereafter, 48 stones with messages arrived for the scientists to examine. People were desperate for money to pay their bills and feed their families, so creating a false piece of evidence for the Lost Colony of Roanoke seemed like an easy method to get some extra cash. The majority of these stones came from a Georgia stonecutter. The additional stones depicted a story of a traumatic journey by Elanor Dare and the remaining colonists to an area near today’s Atlanta, Georgia. Today, most scholars believe that the first stone is an authentic primary account, but the others are fabricated evidence by people in an effort to get the award money.
References
Brenau's Pet Rocks. (2016, June 14). Retrieved from https://window.brenau.edu/articles/dare-stones/
The Dare Stones. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brenau.edu/darestones/
The Dare Stones. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncpedia.org/dare-stones
University, W. P. O. B. (2018, May 29). Is This Inscribed Stone a Notorious Forgery-or the Answer to America's Oldest Mystery?\Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/lost-colony-roanoke-virginia-eleanor-dare-stone-mystery/
The Dare Stones. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brenau.edu/darestones/
The Dare Stones. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncpedia.org/dare-stones
University, W. P. O. B. (2018, May 29). Is This Inscribed Stone a Notorious Forgery-or the Answer to America's Oldest Mystery?\Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/lost-colony-roanoke-virginia-eleanor-dare-stone-mystery/