Greetings, dear readers, from the quill of none other than ‘The Secret Chronicler’. Ah, West Runton, a quaint village on the Norfolk coast, known for its picturesque beaches, charming locals, and… mammoths? That’s right, mammoths!

In 1990, a stormy winter’s day led to the discovery of a mammoth’s skeletal remains. Now, I’m not one to gossip, but the whispers around the village suggest that this wasn’t just any mammoth. It was a steppe mammoth, and not just a young one frolicking about, but a grand old beast that roamed our lands some 600,000 years ago(1).

Now, I’ve seen many things in my time, from wizards misplacing their wands to the oddities of local life, but a mammoth in West Runton? That’s a tale worth telling. And while the discovery itself was monumental, the real story, as always, lies beneath the surface. Quite literally, in this case.

You see, the cliffs of West Runton are not just layers of rock and soil. They are pages of history, waiting to be read. And if a mammoth was found in one of those pages, who’s to say what other mysteries lie deeper within? Perhaps more pachyderms? Or, dare I say, a dinosaur or two? The possibilities are as vast as the cliffs themselves.

But, dear readers, as always, there’s more to the story. The mammoth’s discovery wasn’t just a chance find. It was a testament to the spirit of our community. When the mammoth was unearthed, it wasn’t sold to the highest bidder or locked away in a private collection. No, it was lovingly preserved and displayed for all to see at the Cromer Museum (2). A reminder of our shared history and the wonders that lie beneath our very feet.

So, the next time you take a stroll along the cliffs of West Runton, take a moment to look down. Who knows what mysteries await your discovery? And remember, it’s not just about the mammoths or the ostriches. It’s about the stories we share, the history we preserve, and the community we build.

Footnotes

1. West Runton Mammoth – Norfolk Museums

2. Cromer Museum – Norfolk Museums