Remains of an ancient woolly mammoth believed to be 130,000 years old were dug up by road workers expanding a highway.

The bones of the mammoth were discovered by Highways England workers at the A14 highway expansion between Cambridge and Huntingdon, Cambs.

Some remains of a woolly rhino were also found by the highway crew and the ancient parts are set to undergo a study by specialists to determine their exact age.

A Highways England spokesman said: “The remains of a woolly mammoth dating back to the ice age are among the latest remarkable finds from the team working on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon project.”

The patch of land where the remains near Fenstanton where the bones were found is believed to be an ancient river.

The woolly mammoth, which was around the same size as an African elephant, roamed Eurasia thousands of years ago before its extinction.

Its fur meant it was perfectly adapted to the cold environment during the last ice age.

Mammoths, which are thought to have weighed up to 8 tons, became extinct around 8,000 BC.

Scientists believe their extinction was a result of climate change and being hunted by humans.

Remains of the woolly mammoth have been found on most continents except for Australasia and South America

The spokesman continued: “Operatives also discovered the remains of a woolly rhino, both at least 130,000 years old, during excavations for construction materials near Fenstanton in what was once an ancient river.”

The A14 expansion has led to a number of historic discoveries and excavators have found items dating back as far as the ice age.

The spokesman added: “They are the latest in a series of fantastic finds from the team building the new road, with other remarkable discoveries including; Prehistoric Henges, Iron Age settlements, Roman pottery kilns, three Anglo-Saxon villages and a deserted medieval village.”

Paleontologist Dean Lomax has labeled the discoveries as “exciting” and “quite uncommon.”

He said: “Woolly mammoth and woolly rhino were once a common part of the wildlife here in the UK, during the Ice Age.

“We know this because their fossils have been found at various fossil sites across the UK. However, recent discoveries like this are quite uncommon and it is exciting that they have been uncovered during roadworks.

“It would be interesting to discover whether this is a one-off discovery or whether more individuals are preserved in the same area.

“It’s also important that these specimens are appropriately cared for and conserved. These types of bone, especially mammoth tusk, can deteriorate quite poorly if left untreated so great care should be taken with these remains.”

The £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) A14 project is due to open in December 2020.