A team of experts from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham has made a groundbreaking discovery in a quarry in England, uncovering nearly 200 dinosaur footprints that date back an impressive 166 million years. The finds have been dubbed a “dinosaur highway” due to the extensive network of trackways discovered across the site.
The excavation, which involved over 100 people and cost 100 days, revealed five main trackways, with the longest continuous one stretching over 150 meters. Four of these tracks were made by long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods, including the 18-meter-long Cetiosaurus. The fifth trackway belonged to a nine-meter-long carnivorous dinosaur called Megalosaurus.
One intriguing aspect of the discovery is the presence of carnivore and herbivore tracks crossing over each other, sparking questions about how these creatures interacted with one another. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of dinosaur behavior and social dynamics.
The team’s findings have been complemented by detailed 3D models and aerial drone photography, which will allow researchers to continue studying the site in the future. The discovery is set to be showcased on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain and at a new public exhibition, Breaking Ground, at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The excavation provides valuable insights into the lives of these prehistoric creatures, including their walking patterns, speeds, and sizes. With over 40 sets of footprints already discovered in the area in 1997, this latest find is expected to shed new light on dinosaur behavior and social interactions.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/dinosaur-highway-footprints-oxford-quarry-b2672763.html