The Gandalara Cycle books (published in the early 80’s), by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron, were set in the dried-up Mediterranean basin. A couple of modern humans are sent through a time slip to inhabit natives in the basin - once they realize where they are and that the basin is fixin’ to refill, they organize a move out of the basin.
Pretty good page turners - I need to reread them some time.
Could be worth a listen, if it’s on audiobook...
https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/gandalara-cycle/40842/