Woman finds 'smiling' rock on UK island
Share this @internewscast.com

Open wide!

During a recent trip with her husband, a woman’s quest for fossils took an unexpected turn when she stumbled upon a bizarre and somewhat eerie formation that looked strikingly like human teeth.

While exploring Holy Island in Northumberland, 64-year-old Christine Clark discovered a small stone that seemed to be flashing her a “smile.”

“It resembled a set of false teeth,” she recounted to the BBC about her unusual find.

Indeed, the lower half of the rock uncannily features what looks like a set of open jaws framing a dark “mouth,” all on an otherwise plain pebble.

After sharing photos of the stone on a fossil identification Facebook group, she determined that her peculiar discovery was actually an ancient marine invertebrate known as a crinoid.

Crinoids, which belong to the same phylum as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, first appeared some 500 million years ago during the Cambrian period. Although it’s one of the oldest complex animals on the planet, modern versions of it still exist today.

The creatures attach themselves to the sea floor with a flexible stem, and their bodies are surrounded by a series of branching arms that somewhat resemble a flower — earning them the nickname “sea lilies.”

“The stem consists of these little discs, called ossicles, and what Christine has found is a number of these ossicles connected together, in what is called a columnal,” Dr. Jan Hennissen, senior paleontologist at the British Geological Survey, told the outlet.

So the “mouth” formation in the stone Clark found weren’t teeth at all, but one of those stems bending and forming in just the right shape.

“It is probably from a rock formation called the Alston formation, which is a dark limestone, and that is about 350 million years old,” Hennissen surmised.

Clark said she’s gotten a number of offers to buy the fossil, but so far plans on keeping the unusual artifact.

“It brings a lot of amusement to many people,” she said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Unruly Delta customer forces emergency landing in Houston, airline says

Delta Passenger’s Disruptive Behavior Prompts Emergency Landing in Houston, Reports Airline

An aircraft was compelled to execute an emergency landing after a passenger…
College student dies in tragic ski accident at Wisconsin resort, marking second death within a month

Tragic Skiing Incident Claims Second Student’s Life at Wisconsin Resort in One Month

A tragic ski accident claimed the life of a 20-year-old college student…
Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits

Bayer’s $7.25 Billion Settlement: What It Means for Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Victims

Bayer, the agrochemical giant, alongside attorneys for cancer sufferers, announced a tentative…
Budget shortfall may close the book on Mamdani’s library funding promise

Is Mamdani’s Library Funding Promise in Jeopardy? Budget Shortfall Threatens Vital Resources

In a surprising turn of events, Mayor Mamdani’s preliminary budget plan includes…
White House warns Iran it'd be 'very wise' to cut a deal now

White House Urges Iran to Seize Diplomatic Opportunity: ‘Very Wise’ to Negotiate Now

WASHINGTON — In a bold display of defiance, Iran has joined forces…
Stephen A Smith calls on Gavin Newsom to ‘answer’ for California’s homelessness, crime

Stephen A. Smith Challenges Gavin Newsom: Unveiling the Truth Behind California’s Homelessness and Crime Crisis

In a recent episode of his “Straight Shooter” podcast, ESPN host Stephen…
President Trump says an Iran attack decision likely 'over the next, probably 10 days'

Trump Anticipates Decision on Potential Iran Strike Within 10 Days

President Donald Trump has announced he is on the verge of deciding…
Trump to release government UFO and 'extraterrestrial life' files

Trump to Unveil Government UFO Files: Potential Revelations on Extraterrestrial Life

In a significant move that has sparked widespread intrigue, President Trump declared…
LA security guard caught on camera pummeling homeless man

LA Security Guard Captured on Video in Altercation with Homeless Individual

A recent incident in West Hollywood has drawn attention after a security…
Judge tosses lawsuit from ex-NYPD commissioner accusing department of 'systemic corruption'

Court Dismisses Former NYPD Commissioner’s ‘Systemic Corruption’ Lawsuit Against Department

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Thomas Donlon, a…
Lake Tahoe avalanche victim was married to first responder

Lake Tahoe Avalanche Claims Life of Spouse to First Responder

An avalanche of unprecedented severity claimed the lives of eight skiers on…
US trade deficit declined in 2025 — but America imported a record amount despite Trump tariffs

US Trade Deficit Shrinks in 2025 Amid Record-Breaking Imports Despite Trump Tariffs

In 2025, the United States saw a slight decline in its trade…