According to most recent archaeological data sources (2018), evidence of the earliest fire control by human ancestors has been found in the Wonderwerk Cave of South Africa. I understand the show was created in 2017, and ignoring that information is obviously excusable.
The problem is that even before 2018, the earliest unequivocal evidence of fire control was found in the Qesem Cave of the Fertile Crescent. While I understand the 2018 evidence may have been published after this show was created, why is earlier evidence not reflected? Why does the show make it look like the humans who first controlled fire were blond and blue-eyed humans (traits held by many to originate in Northern Europe) instead of representing human traits that would have been found in the Fertile Crescent at that time? With the schmutz on the actor's faces, one could even argue this episode dips a toe in black-face performance.
Abbreviated timeline of the show's information in context of public information:
- 2014 / 300,000 BCE -- evidence of a "300,000-year-old hearth was unearthed in a central part of the \[Qesem\] cave" (public information as early as 2014)
- 2017 / 12,000 BC -- this show's example of fire control by blonds Northern Europe (2017)
- 2018 / 1Mya. -- evidence of controlled fire in the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa (information available to the public in 2018)
There are many many other publicly available facts about the origins of human control of fire that pre-date this show. This is an abbreviated list.