A 'Smiling' Fossil Discovered in Northumberland
Christine and her husband Gerard visit Northumberland annually, where they indulge in a unique hobby: hunting for 'Cuddy's beads' on Holy Island. This island, with its 150 residents and twice-daily sea inundations, holds historical significance as the birthplace of early English Christianity.
These 'beads' are actually fossilized segments of crinoid stems, marine creatures dating back to the Cambrian period, over 500 million years ago. The nickname 'beads' originated from St. Cuthbert, the patron saint of the North of England, who is believed to have resided on the island in the 670s. St. Cuthbert's influence is also reflected in the miracles that occurred around his shrine.
In the 1300s, people began discovering these small fossils, initially unaware of their true nature. Dr. Frances McIntosh, collections curator at English Heritage, explains that they mistakenly attributed the fossils to St. Cuthbert's spiritual processes, believing that collecting them could enhance their spiritual practices.
This tradition persisted, and on Boxing Day, Christine stumbled upon an unexpected find while searching for the beads. Amidst the pebbles on the beach, she discovered a fossil with a peculiar 'smiling' appearance, which she humorously described as the first set of teeth she had ever found.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) identified the fossil as a larger segment of a crinoid. Crinoids, with their flexible stems and branching arms, are ancient marine animals that have existed for over 500 million years. Despite their age, some crinoids still thrive today.
Dr. Jan Hennissen, a senior paleontologist at BGS, explained that the crinoid's stem is composed of small discs called ossicles, which Christine's discovery represents. The stem's unique shape, resembling a 'mouth-like' structure, is a result of it being split lengthwise and curved.
The fossil likely originates from the Alston formation, a dark limestone dating back approximately 350 million years. Crinoids belong to the Echinodermata phylum, which also includes sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Finding a complete crinoid is rare, but discovering individual stem segments, known as St. Cuthbert's beads, is a more common occurrence, often resembling polo mints.
