The lost tribes were not considered lost because nobody knew where they went at the time. They were considered lost because they lost their identity - their knowledge of themselves and their inheritance when God scattered them to the winds as punishment. They didn't lose their name or their observances. And that is why it has been possible to find them in modern times. That is why all but Asher have been identified. Judah was never considered lost. Neither if I'm not too much mistaken was Benjamin, though part of that tribe wandered off and returned to Israel a number of years ago from Africa. At the time Jesus was ministering in Israel, he was ministering to Judah and Benjamin and what few stragglers from other tribes might have wandered back or passed through on trade routes from other provinces outside of Israel. Israel was a flourishing trade center at the time which was the thing that made it such and attractive conquest for the Romans in the first place. That should pretty well dash the myths created by spin in the last number of hours. And since the cat is not only out of the bag; but has been tackled and de-haired at this point, one wonders what masterful creation of the imagination yet awaits us in the next prevarication.
Jesus was sent to minister to the lost tribes - as he did in his latter days on earth. He commissioned the Apostles to continue that ministry as he had already laid the seed for Judah and Benjamin. Now, since the 10 tribes were scattered from Assyria to the North, Northeast and to the east, and archeology has nosed into this, we find that they settled in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Burma China across even to Japan - documented at this point. Interestingly enough one of the tribal names is translated in Greek to Kimmerian (ie Cimerian as in Conan the..) and in Japanese translates to Samurai. They were skilled fighters and earned a name and a living as soldiers for hire - initially for Assyria as elite Charioteers. The reputation of the name as it translates out to any other language is such that their legend is the stuff myths and fables wish for. Can anyone guess the name?
Their travels are known. And because their travels are known, it is possible to say that Rome would be among the farthest points away in the known world from where the Apostles were intended to be ministering. that is, save for Paul. And oddly enough, the places where the lost tribes settled or moved to, are outside the control of the Roman Empire of the time - Making not only Rome Immaterial to the job of the original Apostles; but, the Empire of Rome Immaterial as well. If it were possible to come up with a more unlikely lie to spread about where Peter might have established a church to minister to the tribes, I can't immagine one more useless to the task than Rome other than perhaps Figii. This is why I've argued so vehemently that Pete going to Rome is about as useful as Marrying your Daughter to a Eunuch in hopes of increasing your number of grandchildren from none - unless there is an agenda to fill and a story is needed in a pinch to give aid to another lie being spent in order to fraudulently disposses nations of their right to rule an empire in favor of a church domination to come. Who needs fiction when history is so full of intrigue - even amongst those trying still to convince the world that they are the church of Peter.