A team of over 100 researchers excavated a limestone quarry in Oxfordshire, southern England, uncovering nearly 200 dinosaur tracks dating back 166 million years. The discovery, dubbed the “dinosaur highway,” provides significant insights into the lives of dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic period.
Four sets of tracks were identified as belonging to sauropods, long-necked herbivores that grew up to 60 feet in length. A fifth set was found to belong to the Megalosaurus, a 9-meter carnivore with distinctive triple-claw prints. The presence of both herbivores and carnivores at the site raises questions about potential interactions between the two.
The excavation used advanced techniques, including over 20,000 digital images and drone-created 3D models. This trove of documentation will aid future studies, allowing researchers to better understand dinosaur size, gait, and movement speed. The preservation of the tracks reveals details about the muddy lagoon environment in which the dinosaurs walked.
The discovery expands upon previous paleontology work in the area and sheds light on the size and behavior of these ancient creatures. The findings will be showcased at a new exhibit at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and broadcast on the BBC’s “Digging for Britain” program next week.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/dinosaur-highway-dating-back-166-million-years-discovered-in-england