sentences:  In 1672, the inlet between Hatorask and Croatoan Islands closed, and the resulting landmass became known as Hatteras Island.During John Lawson's 1701-1709 exploration of northern Carolina, he visited Hatteras Island and encountered the Hatteras people.Although there is evidence of European activity in the Outer Banks throughout the 17th century, Lawson was the first historian to investigate the region since White left in 1590.