[robowombat]

While the Algouquin Arabs sound like a Blazing Saddles outtake there is nothing inherently absurd in the notion that some Arabs made it to the western Hemisphere before 1492. Little as I like the Arabs one has to acknowledge that thier progress as mariners was astounding. From being camel jockeies they already were familiar with using the stars to navigate across the 'dry ocean' of the Arabian desert.When after conquering Syria and Egypt they were introduced to sailing vessels and ocean voyaging they enthusiastically took to the sea and became the boldest sea raiders since the Vikings. People who raided (often) as far north as Iceland for slaves and had a regular commerce across the Indian Ocean could easily have reached the Americas at some time. However, the long overocean voyage, rough seas and difficulty of hauling any unfortunate Indians back as slaves would all militate against this being any more than an exploratory mission that determined the western lands weren't good pickings for the faithful.

[twigs]

Well put. I agree with what you say. I think that Columbus's observation of that hull is probably evidence that what you say is true. IIRC, Brazil was discovered accidently while sailing up and down the European-African coast. The necessity of sailors swinging way out into the Atlantic to avoid the turbulent African coast would in itself make the discovery of America more likely. I've been told that there are signs here that Africans, Jews, the Irish and the Welsh, in addition to the Vikings, made it here.