February 21, 2010
Stone Age sailors?
Early humans, possibly even prehuman ancestors, appear to have been going to sea much longer than anyone had ever suspected.From the NY Times. What is not entirely clear here, however, is if there is definitive evidence of ongoing travel between Crete and the mainland, or if it is possible that the finds can be explained by a one-time settlement by castaways carried to Crete by some storm.That is the startling implication of discoveries made the last two summers on the Greek island of Crete. Stone tools found there, archaeologists say, are at least 130,000 years old, which is considered strong evidence for the earliest known seafaring in the Mediterranean and cause for rethinking the maritime capabilities of prehuman cultures.
Posted by David on February 21, 2010 9:40 PM
Well, as yet no evidence of anything resembling an ongoing trade or immigration. But even if storm survivors, it would seem to put the dating of "going down to the sea in ships" (as opposed to ponds, streams) quite a bit earlier than previously known.
Yes, I know kayaks are used for sea voyages, as were the huge dugout canoes of the Polynesians. But those are/were built to do so - I wonder if a smaller dugout, or small raft, would survive such a long voyage without respite/repair. Maybe. There are people setting out in sixteen-foot boats.
Posted by: John A on February 22, 2010 5:13 PM
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