Fossil hunter, 13, goes searching for prehistoric relics on summer holiday – and finds giant shark tooth that is millions of years old

A young fossil hunter made a mega prehistoric find when he came across a shark tooth that is millions of years old.

Ben Evans, 13, found the 4 inch megalodon gnasher while on a weekend break on the Essex coast with his dad on July 30.

The archaic tooth is said to be anywhere from 20 million to 3.6 million years old according to the Essex Wildlife Trust. 

The trust verified the ancient shark tooth, adding that finding one fully intact is a ‘rare find’. 

The budding paleontologist is said to be ‘over the moon’ after making the unique discovery. 

The budding paleontologist, Ben Evans (pictured) is said to be ‘over the moon’ after finding the megalodon tooth that is millions of years old

To find a megalodon tooth intact is a ‘rare find’ according to the Essex Wildlife Trust. The 13=year-old said it is his ‘prized possession’

Ben said: ‘I was completely shocked. It was an amazing discovery for me. I’m just over the moon.

‘I didn’t expect it. I’ve watched people on YouTube finding them in places like Florida, but I never thought I would find one in England.

‘I knew it was a megalodon shark tooth straight away. I’m keeping it on my fossil shelf now. It’s my prized possession.’

He and his dad, Jason, specifically made the 94-mile trip, from Hempel Hempstead, Hertfordshire to Walton-on-the-Naze, in the pursuit of some interesting fossil finds. 

The pair quickly racked up 16 miles of walking by early Sunday morning. And it was after this that Ben made the extraordinary discovery.

At around 7am (GMT) Ben spotted the monstrous tooth poking out from underneath a set of rocks. 

Jason, 50, told the BBC: ‘We could just see the edge of it, sticking out, and Ben knew straightaway it was something and pulled it out of the sand.’ 

The two took their find to the Essex Wildlife Trust Discovery Centre, where it was confirmed the tooth formerly belonged to the biggest shark to have ever lived – the megalodon. 

Jason said the youngster had developed a natural interest in fossil hunting from an early age after first visiting the Jurassic Coastline, straddling Devon and Dorset.

A megalodon shark (pictured) was the largest marine predator. It measured at around three times longer than a great white shark 

A graph illustrating the enormous size of the megalodon. Ben has discovered a tooth from this prehistoric creature as well as 100 small shark teeth

The schoolboy had previously collected around 100 small shark teeth during trips to the sandy shoreline, which is a known spot for prehistoric finds 

He said the pair were thrilled to take home their new prized possession after spending a long weekend camping in Essex.

But this isn’t the first time remnants of megalodon teeth have previously discovered in the area. 

In August 2019, siblings Adam and Sophie found a 3 inch tooth, belonging to the same aquatic creature, according to the Essex Wildlife Trust. 

A Megalodon shark was the largest marine predator. It roamed the world seas, measuring at around three times longer than a great white shark.