the majority of the story lines would probably be tribal warfare, defending camps from predators, finding food for the tribe etc.
if you introduce antedeluvian civilisations (the whole hyperborea,thule,atlantis,mu element) you leave historic Stone age setting behind and enter Conan style fantasy, the same goes for magic.
It would take a VERY inventive DM to run this game and keep the players interest.
Perhaps a tribal shaman class???
That sort of thing had crossed my mind, but then you are turning it into a fantasy game again, if you allow Shamans then there is no reason not to allow undead, when undead are allowed it seems appropriate to allow demons or mythological monsters like giants or griffins etc, once you have done that its Conan and not 10,000BC.
as soon as you allow magic, you open the flood gates and turn history into fantasy.
One possible idea though (just to avoid being called Mr Negative) is allow a Shaman class that has no magic, BUT can do amazing things with herbs, act as a faith healer (doubling natural healing and so forth), providing morale bonuses to fear effects or saves through their "Blessings".
Ranger and Barbarian should be the staple Combat classes, the Fighter is very much part of the martial tradition, a soldier.
Rangers could be renamed Hunters, Barbarians could be renamed Ragers or something (not berzerkers, they were scandinavian).
Perhaps you could have a prestige class "Tribal Elder" who gets leadership based bonuses, inspire confidence/competence etc
That sort of thing had crossed my mind, but then you are turning it into a fantasy game again, if you allow Shamans then there is no reason not to allow undead, when undead are allowed it seems appropriate to allow demons or mythological monsters like giants or griffins etc, once you have done that its Conan and not 10,000BC.
as soon as you allow magic, you open the flood gates and turn history into fantasy.
One possible idea though (just to avoid being called Mr Negative) is allow a Shaman class that has no magic, BUT can do amazing things with herbs, act as a faith healer (doubling natural healing and so forth), providing morale bonuses to fear effects or saves through their "Blessings".
Ranger and Barbarian should be the staple Combat classes, the Fighter is very much part of the martial tradition, a soldier.
Rangers could be renamed Hunters, Barbarians could be renamed Ragers or something (not berzerkers, they were scandinavian).
Perhaps you could have a prestige class "Tribal Elder" who gets leadership based bonuses, inspire confidence/competence etc
Sounds Good.
For example The NY Times had this to say:
"But the big, climactic fight, complete with an epic snuffleupagus rampage, is decent action-movie fun. And as a history lesson, “10,000 BC” has its value. It explains just how we came to be the tolerant, peace-loving farmers we are today, and why the pyramids were never finished."
Plot holes
The pyramids aren't that old. "No single artifact, no single inscription, or pottery, or anything has been found until now, in any place to predate the Egyptian civilization more than 5,000 years ago." http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/explore/howold.html
I realize that this idea of 10,000 BC is very "Conan the Barbarian" but that's fantasy. You can't call this prehistory and then add fantasy tropes to it.
For example, I'm guessing where the movie takes place in Egypt or possibly Africa, where saber-tooth cats never lived. By that time the saber tooth cats were extinct, although other large cats would have existed though none as big as depicted in the movie. Terror birds also didn't live in the area depicted either.
Last of all, woolly mamoths weren't that big, being around 10 feet tall at the shoulder. They look bigger because big heads and tusks but their bodies are relatively smaller.
And what gives with all these hairless barbarians? With the exception of Conan, who has been portrayed as lacking chest hair since the bookcovers first appeared, it seems to me that real prehistoric men would have more discernible body hair. Even Conan in the books is described by Howard as having a hairy chest; we just got stuck with artistic license there. Phooey! It just irks me when Sean Connery as James Bond has more body hair than any prehistoric guy. At least Ringo Starr had body hair as a caveman!
Debby
Wooly Manmoth can be found in Frostburn on page 119.
For the Terrorbird, you could use the Gastronis from "Lost Preshistorica" by Lost Quest Games (all textual material is designated Open Gaming Content).
Gastronis
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8+16 (34 hp)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 30 ft (6 squares)
AC: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+6
Attack: Claw +6 melee (1d4+3) or Bite +1 melee (1d6+1)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +6 melee (1d4+3) and Bite +1 melee (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Scent, Racial Skill Bonus
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 16, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 9
Skills: Jump +6, Listen +6, Move Silently +4, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness, Great Fortitude
Environment: Temperate to warm forests and marsh
Organization: Solitary, mating pair, mother with single young
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 5-8 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: —
The gastronis is an aggressive flightless bird that stands a bit over six feet in height. This creature is well known for being both a carnivore and a scavenger. Due to the constant need of fresh kills or discovered carcasses,
the gastronis lays only one egg at time. This helps cut down on the feeding needs of the hatchlings for the mother gastronis.
These hefty birds have an enormous beak, heavy claws, and small wings. While the wings are large enough to help the gastronis flap about a bit, they lack the ability to help the gastronis truly fly. The skin of the gastronis ranges in shades of red, pink, dull blue-gray or tan while the feathers tend to be a dull black or dark gray tone. The overall appearance of the gastronis resembles something a bit like a gigantic, flightless turkey vulture.
The natives of the lost lands hold a degree of fear and hatred towards the gastronis. While the creature may not in fact be anywhere near the largest of threatening beasts, this bird is certainly one of the most foul and cunning. Likewise it seems that the gastronis holds little fear in approaching native settlements, even if there is the presence of a bonfire. Though some natives have been known to slay the gastronis and consume the meat in times of distress, most consider the flesh of the gastronis to be tough, somewhat dry, and repulsive.
Combat: The gastronis is an aggressive, territorial creature that holds no qualms about making a fresh kill. These creatures have enormous appetites and are especially dangerous when hungry. A gastronis attacks with both claws as well as its huge beak.
Racial Skill Bonuses (Ex): Due to the small wings of the gastronis, these creatures cannot truly fly. The wings do, however, help the gastronis in “jumping” about as needed. As such, the gastronis receives a +2 racial skill bonus to all Jump checks.
Future History: Like most other dinosaurs, the gastronis has long since died out in most areas of the realm. They still thrive though in the lost lands.
Debby
The Yagahl (Mammoth Hunters) were lead by a hunter who had proven his bravery and hunting luck and was allowed to hold the "White Spear" (a powerful totemic artifact for the tribe).
The Yagahl also had a wise women skilled in healing and prophecy called "Old Mother". Unlike the rest of her tribe she didn't seem to age and was capable of spirit walking to accompany the warriors of her tribe on their journey. She may have even influenced the behavior of the "sabre tooth tiger" and other beasts (Velociraptors) but this is not clear.
The Yagahl and their neighboring tribes were attacked by the "Four Legged Demons". These turned out to be men on horseback. The demons fled on "Giant Birds" across an impassible desert. The Giant Birds were sailboats, and the river through the desert was the something similar to the Nile. The demons were led by a Pyramid God. The king was served by blind attendents and no one was allowed to look at him. He was swaved in concealing white silks and exotic jewelry to increase his mystical aura. In actuallity the silks hid the old age and possible disease of the king.
The prophecy claimed that a man capable of speaking with animals would lead the Atlantean slaves to freedom. D'Leh love interest Evolet was marked by fate as unique. First she was the only blonde with blue eyes in a tribe of brown haired, brown eyed savages. Secondly, a scar pattern on her hand corresponded to an astromical formation predicted as the downfall of the "Atlanteans".
One of the themes of the movie was that the comonplace becomes mystical and exotic to thoughs unfamiliar with it and steeped in supertition.
Atlantean metalurgy, astronomy, and shipbuilding was decidedly alien and magical to a culture used to wood and stone tools.
"Magic" in your game does not have to be spells but merely superior skills, knowledge, and technology. The magical bonus provided by magic weapons and armor could be the difference from using a fragile bone object to using one made of steel. A wondrous object such as a "bag of holding" could be a well crafted back pack and a set of miniturized multifunctional tools rather than the crude rolled hide or stone hammer usually available. And so fourth.