Prehistoric Fiction

Was wondering if there is a fiction book about humans in prehistory. Not really historical fiction. A large bonfire at night, a tribal ritual or ceremony, a leader, a deeply human experience at our root. I don't want something that's particularly focused on telling the story of an event that actually happened or that involves real archeological remains. Just fiction, centered around what it means to be human, perhaps written by a philosopher or scientist. I say written by a philosopher or scientist because I don't like plots where it's like "main protagonist learns what it truly means to be x" moreso just a musing on this society, although I'm fine with a plot. I don't really want environment to be a factor, so no bear attacks or people getting pulled apart from their families.