The European beaver was once widely distributed throughout the British Isles. Archaeological evidence, place name association and reference in historic literature testifies to the former abundance of this species. Its remains are more abundant in lower Britain where large, lush wetlands would have ensured its prehistoric existence in considerable numbers. Dam remnants and field signs have been identified from a range of locations and an indication that this species also excavated bank-side tunnels was supported by the discovery of an adult’s skeleton in a burrow on the banks of the river Frome in Somerset.