[AndrewC]

The problem is that erectus would have had to be able to navigate at least 50 miles in the open ocean for them to get there, and I don't think our scientists are willing to accept that yet.

They were blown there as passengers on south sea palms, like Darwin's finches.

[Ada Coddington]

They were blown there as passengers on south sea palms, like Darwin's finches.

I suppose that's just as possible as them walking over on the back of all the sharks that live in those waters.

[TKEman]

Well, even if one or two were blown there on palms or whatever, you still need to establish a founder population. In order to establish a founder population, you've got to have an organized group make the crossing.

Genetic evidence indicates that for a successful founder population to be established, you've got to have a critical mass of around 400 people. You can do it with less, if you've got genetic mapping, but they didn't have that.....