As early as in the ancient times

这个表达有错误。in 多余删掉。

该词组可有两种分析：

1. 把 as early as 整体看作一个复合介词，后面接时间名词作宾语（名词之前不能再加介词）。意为“早在古代”。

2. 把 as early as  拆分，第一个as 是副词，第二个 as 是介词。这样，表示谓语动词发生的时间“跟古代一样早”，其实还是发生在古代。

as early as 后面的时间名词之前不能再加介词，例句：

She became a film star as early as 1942.
她早在1942年就成了电影名星了。
《汉英大词典》
They were forged by them, moreover, into a self-conscious nation as early as the 10th century
另外，早在10世纪，他们就被其锻造成了一个具有自我意识的民族。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
通货膨胀率最早有可能在本月就回落至个位数。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
The transcriptions of the text were available as early as 1960.
原文的转写本早在1960年就可获取。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
Voters were lining up at polling places as early as 6.00 this morning, an hour before voting started.
早至今天早晨6点、离投票开始还有1个小时，选民就开始在投票点排队。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
The election could be held as early as next March.
选举可能最早明年3月份就要开始。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》