A team of paleontologists has uncovered a remarkable record of ancient dinosaur footprints hidden in plain sight at a high school in Biloela, Australia. The slab of rock, estimated to be around 200 million years old, had been on display for two decades without anyone noticing the significance of the fossil.
Using advanced 3D imaging and light filters, researchers found 66 fossilized footprints from 47 individual dinosaurs belonging to the ichnospecies Anomoepus scambus. This discovery provides an unprecedented snapshot of the abundance of dinosaurs during the Early Jurassic period, a time when no dinosaur bones have been uncovered in Australia.
The study, published in the journal Historical Biology, reveals that the dinosaurs had likely been crossing a river or walking up and down its length. The researchers found 13 sequences of footprints from 13 different species, as well as isolated footprints that belonged to a total of 47 individuals.
The discovery highlights the importance of trace fossils, which are often overlooked but can provide valuable information about ancient life forms. Lead study author Dr. Anthony Romilio notes that fossil dinosaur footprints tend to be under-rated even by many paleontologists, but they offer a unique window into the behavior and activity of dinosaurs that have not been well-documented.
The study also found two other instances of trace fossils in unexpected locations, including a boulder used as a parking lot entry marker and a rock from a personal collection. These discoveries demonstrate the potential for further exploration and excavation at the Callide Mine near Biloela, which could uncover more fossils like this one.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/21/science/dinosaur-footprints-fossil-australia-school/index.html