People were burning fires at a quarry near the Savannah River as far back as 50,000 years ago.

http://www.postandcourier.com/20160521/160529887/topper-site-find-reveals-people-were-here-long-before-previously-thought 

People were burning fires at a quarry near the Savannah River as far back 
as 50,000 years ago. 
... 
Remains of charcoal deep in the ground were found to be approximately 
50,000 years old when they were radio-carbon dated. Other stone tool 
artifacts were uncovered alongside them. Goodyear and the Topper team 
are preparing the findings for peer-review publication. 

People were burning fires at a quarry near the Savannah River as far back as 50,000 years ago.