The March 27 issue of Science Week (which should be available by tomorrow
at http://scienceweek.com/) reports new evidence that Homo Erectus was
capable of repeated water crossings.  The evidence hinges on the fact that
the species reached the islands of Wallacea, which were not land-connected
to any continent at the time Homo Erectus existed.  This may call for a
reappraisal of H. Erectus' cognitive abilities.  It might also give one
pause for thought on the issue of fishing and fish in the ancestral human
diet.

Apparently the full paper by M.J. Morwood and colleagues was published in
the 12 Mar 98 NATURE.

 -=-
 "Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can
  enter into the temple of wisdom."               Colton (1780-1832)