An individual with a passion for fossil hunting is commemorating an extraordinary discovery after stumbling upon an enormous mammoth tooth on a shoreline.

During her birthday excursion to Holland-on-Sea, Essex, Chris Bien, accompanied by her spouse Mark, explored the beachfront. As she settled on a rock by the water's edge, she noticed an intricate wave-like design in the gravel below.

Observing a protrusion, Chris, a 56-year-old mother, speculated that it resembled a tooth due to its distinct pattern.

Despite initially attempting to excavate the discovery with her hands, the depth proved challenging, prompting Chris and Mark to utilize a trowel they had brought along. Eventually, they unearthed the fully fossilized mammoth tooth, sharing a moment of disbelief and elation.

Earlier in the day, Chris humorously expressed her aspiration to find such a tooth, leading to a joyous moment of realization on the beach.

Exhibiting beautiful ridges, the mammoth tooth, estimated to measure between six-and-a-half to seven inches in both depth and width, weighs over 4 pounds (2 kilos).

Following online consultation, Chris speculates that the tooth may have belonged to a steppe mammoth, an ancient species predating the woolly mammoth by approximately 1.8 million years.

Chris suspects that the fossil represents only half of a complete tooth, with only two inches of the chewing plate visible, suggesting a portion may be missing.

To preserve the tooth, Chris plans to soak it in distilled water for several weeks before applying a protective coating of preservation glue and ethanol.

Engaged in volunteering activities at her local museum in Worthing, Chris boasts a 17-year membership with the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society.

Renowned for harboring a wealth of fossilized treasures, the beaches of North Essex have yielded various discoveries, including mammoth leg and toe bones, as well as an Ice Age horse tooth and ankle bone.

Expressing a desire to share the profound historical significance of her find, Chris encourages others to explore and learn from similar discoveries.

View the moment captured in a video below…