Some scientists estimate fire has been used to cook food for at least 1.6 million years.
I don't think any one group can claim to have "invented" bbq cooking.
True. I also just read The Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook and it confirms Germans/Czechs used to smoke sausage + pork loins in the old world. I am guessing the excess of beef led to the smoking of brisket, clod, and beef ribs. Doesn't seem like they need anybody to teach them to smoke meats.