GGG Ping
Lots of good archeological evidence being found in Georgia in the last ten years. Look it up.
1.8 million years ago, probably homo erectus. After the species evolved, they seemed to thrive and spread across most of the planet that wasn't ice covered (ice ages every 115,000 years) (and they had fire but they probably didn't have clothes) and everywhere long ocean voyages weren't required (proably didn't have boats.)