Elephants and Hippos in East Anglia
Fossils from various parts of the region indicate that during the warmer parts of the past 2 million years, the types of animals living there were similar to those we see in the modern grasslands of Africa.
Take a closer look at the animals living in East Anglia several thousand years ago by moving your mouse over the image.
A 
indicates that you can see this animal on display
in the gallery: click the image to find out more.
During the colder phases,the types of animals living in East Anglia inlcuded mammoths, wolves, deer and horses. Remains of some of these species are on display in the gallery.
Take a closer look at the animals living in East Anglia during the last ice age by moving your mouse over the image. A
indicates that you can see this animal on display in the gallery: click the image to find out more.
On display in the Museum ...
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Found in the chalk pits around Barrington, Cambridgeshire, the discovery of this animal suggests that East Anglia was once much warmer, like the grasslands of Africa today. Also found in East Anglia are the teeth of Mammoths and Elephants. The skull of this Ox was found near Burwell in Cambridgeshire. Embedded in the forehead is an axe blade - evidence that there were humans hunting at around the time this Ox was alive, several thousand years ago. The remains of wolves, bears and beavers have all been found in the peat of the Burwell Fens near Cambridge. The Giant Elk (below, right) looks similar to modern species - except this one stands 1.65 metres tall and has an antler span of 2.5 metres! The Elk is about 12 000 years old and was found preserved in a peat bog in Enniscorthy, Ireland. The specimen was bought by Adam Sedgwick in 1885 for £140. 
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Selected photographs on this page by Steven O'Shaughnessy
