Great post.
I was given Auel's book many years ago and have postponed its reading (long waiting list). It's a massive book, part of a massive series that has a lot of credit because of the research, as you point out, the author put into it.
I hope to have the time to read at least The Clan of the Cave Bear.
Even though we have some varieties of small bears, bears do not stand out as important animals in folk traditions of beliefs.
The anaconda or the tapir are probably more remarkable, as it has been described in some posts here.