The Roanoke people of the Tillett site had a semi-seasonal lifestyle: they inhabited the area from early Spring to early Fall, and the village was primarily based on fishing. During this yearly period, inhabitants consumed chiefly shellfish. Oysters and clams were the most common food sources, and the people left middens of shells that demonstrated their consumption. Roanoke women also gathered acorns and hackberry nuts to supplement their diets. The hunting of deer was relatively common, while the consumption of turtles was relatively rare. Lithium used for tools was maintained but not produced on the island and likely came from Bodie Island instead. Roanoke Indians had smoking pipes and used the seeds of plants such as Cleaver and Plantain for medicinal purposes. Four burials have been found at the site of Roanoke Indians of various social positions. The nobility of the culture had their skin and other soft parts of the body removed prior to burial, and after burial, preserved bodies would be transported to a temple. Tooth decay and diseases, including syphilis, were present in the community. It is extremely likely that the Roanoke had similar beliefs to the Virginian Algonquin tribes in that their great warriors and kings lived on in the afterlife, but that commoners lived only a mortal existence.
The Roanoke people of the Tillett site had a semi-seasonal lifestyle they inhabited the area from early Spring to early Fall and the village was primarily based on fishing During this yearly period inhabitants consumed chiefly shellfish Oysters and clams were the most common food sources and the people left middens of shells that demonstrated their consumption Roanoke women also gathered acorns and hackberry nuts to supplement their diets The hunting of deer was relatively common while the consumption of turtles was relatively rare Lithium used for tools was maintained but not produced on the island and likely came from Bodie Island instead Roanoke Indians had smoking pipes and used the seeds of plants such as Cleaver and Plantain for medicinal purposes Four burials have been found at the site of Roanoke Indians of various social positions The nobility of the culture had their skin and other soft parts of the body removed prior to burial and after burial preserved bodies would be transported to a temple Tooth decay and diseases including syphilis were present in the community It is extremely likely that the Roanoke had similar beliefs to the Virginian Algonquin tribes in that their great warriors and kings lived on in the afterlife but that commoners lived only a mortal existence