XPost: alt.folklore.computers   
   From: invalid@invalid.invalid   
      
   c186282  writes:   
   >   From what I've read, even the Neanderthals knew how   
   >   to build at least crude boats - pushed out onto some   
   >   of the Greek islands.   
   >   
   >   So yea, modern humans carried on the practice. It got   
   >   them to England and beyond. Well, SOME of them ...   
   >   the death rate would have been rather high for any   
   >   long voyage.   
   >   
   >   Building GOOD, large-ish, properly steerable boats ...   
   >   THAT took much longer than expected. Seems easy now,   
   >   but for whatever reasons the ancients had a hard time   
   >   of it.   
   >   
   >   England ... NOT too far. Even crap boats would do it.   
   >   The Beaker People completely infiltrated the existing   
   >   English pop about 4400bc - but they'd HAVE to have   
      
   Nearer 2400BC.   
      
   >   floated there. Clearly their boats were 'adequate',   
   >   and there'd have been a LOT of them.   
      
   Or a small number who consistently outcompeted the autochthonous   
   population; IIRC they had multiple technological advantages e.g. bronze   
   and the steppe package.   
      
   --   
   https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/   
      
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