Quarry workers in Oxfordshire have made one of the most significant dinosaur discoveries in decades, uncovering a trail of footprints from long-necked sauropods and a ferocious predator, megalosaurus. The finds, which date back to around 166 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic period, are among the largest sites of dinosaur discoveries in the world.
The quarry site was previously known as “dinosaur highway” due to over 40 sets of footprints found across nearly 200 yards of pathways. The new tracks expand this site and provide scientists with a unique snapshot of what these animals were doing in life.
Two distinct prints were discovered, one belonging to megalosaurus, a 30-foot-tall predator, and the other to a sauropod, likely a cetiosaurus, which is around 60 feet long. The tracks give insights into how these animals interacted with each other, particularly at points where their paths crossed.
The prints also reveal information about the behavior of these dinosaurs, including possible interactions between megalosaurus and the sauropod. Scientists believe that the sauropods may have moved in herds or traveled alongside smaller herbivores. In contrast, the megalosaurus was an apex predator that walked alone.
Recent findings provide a unique opportunity for scientists to study these ancient creatures up close. Advances in technology allowed researchers to take hundreds of pictures, create molds, record drone footage, and create three-dimensional models of the tracks. These ongoing studies may help preserve information about the dinosaurs’ behavior and habitat.
The discovery is significant not only for its rarity but also because it sheds light on how these animals adapted to their environment during a time when sea levels were higher than they are today.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/world/europe/dinosaur-footprints-quarry-uk.html