In a discovery that has stunned the palaeontology world, British researchers have uncovered around 200 dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire, dating back 166 million years. This find, the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, offers a fascinating glimpse into a prehistoric world.
Unveiling the Dinosaur Highway
A worker at Dewars Farm Quarry discovered the footprints by chance when he noticed unusual patterns while stripping clay. Following the incident, Researchers from Oxford and Birmingham Universities excavated the site, revealing five extensive trackways. The longest track stretches nearly 500 feet, making it one of the largest dinosaur highway sites globally.
Herbivorous cetiosaurus, or large, long-necked dinosaurs are thought to leave four of the trackways. The fifth likely belonged to a nine-meter-long carnivorous megalosaurus, a notorious carnivore that gained fame through its three-toed feet. It was also one of the first dinosaurs to be named.
Preservation Against the Odds
“This site is breathtaking in scale and preservation,” said Prof. Kirsty Edgar of the University of Birmingham. “It’s like stepping into the past and witnessing these giant creatures in action.”
The meticulous excavation involved a 100-person team working tirelessly over a week in June. Advanced technology played a key role, with researchers capturing 20,000 photographs and creating 3D models of the site using drone photography. These efforts aim to unlock secrets about dinosaur movement, size and behaviour.
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Chance may have been the site’s best friend in preservation. “A sudden storm could have covered the tracks in sediment, protecting them from erosion,” said paleobiologist Richard Butler.
Building on Past Discoveries
It is not the first significant find in the area. In 1997, 40 dinosaur tracks were discovered nearby, some stretching 180 meters. However, this latest excavation dwarfs those discoveries, making the region one of importance to understanding Jurassic life.
This finding has captured the public imagination, the surreal impact affecting even those most closely associated. Gary Johnson was the worker who spotted the tracks; he has been quoted reflecting on the incident, saying “To be the first person to see them was magical—a real tingling moment.”
The findings, featured in the BBC documentary Digging for Britain, airing January 8, underscore the thrill of uncovering ancient history. As researchers dig deeper into the treasure trove of Jurassic history, this gem promises to reveal much more about Earth’s incredible past.
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