What was coatoan?

Answer 1

Coatoan was a Native American settlement associated with the Roanoke Colony in present-day North Carolina. It was inhabited by the Algonquian-speaking Secotan people and is notable for being mentioned in the accounts of early English explorers, including those of Sir Walter Raleigh's attempts to establish a colony in the late 16th century. The settlement is linked to the mysterious disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, as it may have been a destination for the colonists seeking assistance or refuge. The term "Coatoan" is also often associated with the word "Croatoan," which was found carved into a tree at the abandoned Roanoke site.