Imagine how clean and sparsely populated the planet was back then. The water was clear and the sky must have been spectacular. they drank out of rivers. They didn't have the distractions of information technology we had so they must have been much more observant and attentive to their immediate surroundings. Psychologically, spiritually they had to be superior to us; it would be impossible for them not to be because we are so far removed from our natural state and our tabula rasa humanity is buried under so many layer of distraction delusion and self deception that we couldn't possibly compare with them. It would be nice to have their insight and understanding but that shipped sailed long ago.
On the other hand, they we also prey. You might slip out for a late night pee and get got. There is a reason that most kids, and many adults, are afraid of the dark. It is programmed into us.
Me, I am the thing in the dark to be afraid of. Even at my age I still wander the woods and rivers at night.