While the Honiton by-pass was being constructed during the 1960s many mammal bones were discovered.
The excavated bone remains come from seventeen different hippos, an elephant, a giant ox, and red deer dating around 140 thousand years ago. During that time, the climate here was like it is in Africa today.
During examination, the specialists established that the hippo bones either belonged to juvenile or elderly animals. It is thought that a natural disaster happened in the Otter valley and the weaker, young and old animals became trapped and died.
Eventually in 1968 after years of discussion and the exchange of much correspondence the Ministry of Transport shared the bones between Allhallows Museum and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.