The remains of four woolly rhinos have been unearthed in an English quarry.

Scientists describe the group find at Whitemoor Haye in Staffordshire
as “extraordinary” and one of the best Ice Age discoveries of
its type in Northern Europe in recent years.

In addition to the great beasts, researchers have also dug out a remarkable
range of superbly preserved plants and insects. One of the rhinos even
has plant material still stuck to its teeth, giving possible clues to
its last meal.

Taken together, the specimens should enable archaeologists to build up
a detailed picture of what life was like in this particular corner of
the UK 30-50,000 years ago.

“We'll be able to piece together the whole Ice Age environment
in that area by the banks of the River Trent,” said Simon Buteux,
director of the field archaeology unit at the University of Birmingham.

He told BBC News Online: “The plants in particular are beautifully
preserved – they look as if they were buried last week quite frankly.
And in amongst them are remains of beetles which are very sensitive to
the climate, so this will give us good clues to what the local environment
was back then.”

The initial woolly rhino (Coelodonta antiquus) discovery was made by
quarryman Ray Davies, who pulled up a massive skull in the bucket of his
digger.

Gary Coates, a University of Birmingham archaeologist, said: “I've
been working at Whitemoor Haye Quarry for five years and have excavated
everything from prehistoric burial grounds to Roman farmsteads, but this
find was totally unexpected.

“It's the biggest find – in all senses of the word – I've
ever been involved with.”