[SunkenCiv]

Mariners didn't hug the coasts, they still don't. Coast-hugging means elevated exposure to shoals, and was learned early. Routes no doubt got learned the hard way, and then as now the main threats were violent storms (especially at night) and piracy.

Fishing, which seems likely as the origin of exploration and migrations by sea, is prehistoric. Based on geology, Flores Island hasn't been part of the mainland for millions of years, even during glaciations, and yet 800K old artifacts were found there.

[Cronos]

I don’t know why you brought up Flores. No Roman or Egyptian traces there at all.

By coast hugging I meant “within sight of shore” — and yes, I am a land lubber, so I’m sorry if that was the wrong terminology