If I remember right, Ebony Armor doesn't spawn until level 32. I was level 17, on my way to the dragon that is south of Riften, when I found this old shack that had fire and blood everywhere, along with a burnt corpse. There was a chest there, which I opened and - much to my surprise - I found an Ebony Helmet.

Was I just lucky, or is this a fixed position? I also found some Ebony Arrows at Alftand when I turned level 18.

It is my understanding that there are certain chest types that allows very high level items to spawn even at level 1. These chests are rare, and even in these chests generation of high level item is rare. But if you are lucky, you can find a few very high level items very early on.

People have reported finding glass and ebony items at level 3 on this forum.