wokme wrote: there is no concievable way I could have died
Palisade is unclaimed. (btw it would take a troll 3 blocks of wood to destroy a pali and build it back up? Judging the palisade is half-broken it would take a second to bash)
Palisade is near several cliffs. (There have been several reports of bugging through such set ups)
HHP of 70. (You might even got killed by leeches and thorns if you weren't paying attention?)
Next character you should try to up exploration instead of survival, #1 because you'll find it more useful in the early stages of your settlement, and #2 because you'll be able to track whether old settlers roam your base for treasures.