I love this idea of looking back at how our ancestors kept in daily contact with nature (as if they had a choice lol; as you point out, we ARE nature). I've been writing about some similar things. And I think you might dig this piece about the ritual inmates perform inside San Quentin Prison to keep life meaningful!

https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/paradise-in-the-penitentiary-2168e553c043