HIDDEN MAPS, HIDDEN CITY - The Lost Colony Center for Science ...

Two different symbols for fortification are on the Farrar map at [C] above ‘Dasamoncak’
and on the Chowan River at [D]. The fortifications are consistent with Ralph Lane’s practice of
building a protective enclosure wherever he would camp for any period of time 35 . The difference
between the square fortress symbol on the Chowan River and the circular fortress symbol on the
Albemarle Sound shore are not yet explained, but they must have had meaning to Farrar (see Fig.
10). The authors suggest that the fort beside Dasamoncak may have been a signal fort, on watch
for Spanish ships entering the Albemarle Sound. Signal forts were often used as decoys to
protect and alert the main fort: while the signal fort is in easy view, the main fort is hidden
further back inland, and if any enemies attack, it will be the signal fort which is attacked first,
giving the main fort time to mount a defense and/or a counterattack. This is evidenced by Ralph
Lane building small fortifications at the point of Shallowbag Bay and the northern end of
Roanoke Island, and further documented in the instruction to Raleigh’s colony to always place a
second fort where retreat is possible 36 . 21
partnership with the English colony, who had cannons, guns and superior military technology. This area
encompassed the region of the Roanoke River (Plymouth, NC today), all of the Pamlico River, Lake Mattamuskeet,
the Outer Banks, to Roanoke Island and the entire Albemarle Sound area (see Morden 1688 map above). The
authors of this paper were able to determine this by in-depth map research study, which all indicated that the
Croatans moved inland immediately after the ceremony with Manteo, “the 13 th of August 1587, by the
commandment of Sir Walter Raleigh.” Quinn, 1955: 431.
21 35 There have been nine confirmed fortifications (so far) credited to Sir Ralph Lane. See “Ralph Lane
Fortifications” in Appendix for details on them.
36 Quinn, 1955: 134.