Dramatic Discovery: 200 Dinosaur Footprints Unearthed in Oxfordshire
Researchers from Oxford and Birmingham Universities have made a significant paleontological find in Oxfordshire, England, revealing 200 dinosaur footprints that date back approximately 166 million years.
Unearthing History
The discovery, considered one of the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, occurred at Dewars Farm Quarry. A worker’s attention to “unusual bumps” led to the excavation of this extensive site, as highlighted in an upcoming BBC documentary titled Digging for Britain.
Footprint Features
According to Prof. Kirsty Edgar, a micropaleontologist at the University of Birmingham, the site showcases five primary trackways, with the longest stretching nearly 500 feet. Four of these trackways appear to be the result of a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur, likely a cetiosaurus, while the remaining track has been attributed to a nine-meter-long carnivorous megalosaurus, known for its characteristic three-toed footprints.
/ AP
A Unique Site
This extensive track site is not only noteworthy for the number of footprints discovered but also for its size. Emma Nicholls from Oxford University mused on its potential significance, stating that it could emerge as one of the largest dinosaur track sites globally. The 100-person excavation team spent a week on-site in June, meticulously documenting the find with 20,000 photographs and creating detailed 3D models using drone technology.
Implications of the Findings
These ancient footprints provide a window into the interactions and behaviors of dinosaurs. Duncan Murdock of the Oxford University Museum expressed the exhilaration of knowing that each footprint is a direct trace left by these prehistoric giants as they traversed their environment.
Richard Butler, a paleobiologist involved in the study, suggested that rare weather conditions may have played a role in the preservation of these tracks, possibly due to a storm depositing sediments that protected the footprints from erosion.
A Spellbinding Moment
The discovery was triggered by quarry worker Gary Johnson, who described the experience as surreal, sharing the joy of being the first to witness these ancient marks. He remarked, “I thought I’m the first person to see them, and it was so surreal — a bit of a tingling moment, really.”
Looking Ahead
The extraordinary find follows a smaller discovery in the region in 1997, when 40 sets of dinosaur tracks were identified during limestone quarrying. This new site provides a potential goldmine of information concerning the size, movement speeds, and social interactions of dinosaurs from a time long past.
As this remarkable discovery captures public imagination, the BBC documentary airing on January 8 will offer more insights into the excavation process and the significance of the findings.
