In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have unearthed a massive expanse of quarry floor filled with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Dating back to the Middle Jurassic Period, around 166 million years ago, the trackways form part of a vast ‘dinosaur highway’ that stretches over 150 meters in length.
The dig, led by a team of more than 100 people, uncovered five extensive trackways featuring footprints from massive herbivorous dinosaurs like Cetiosaurus and carnivorous theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus. The fifth trackway was made by the infamous Megalosaurus, which had distinctive large three-toed feet with claws.
The discovery is significant not only because of its age but also due to its preservation. The footprints were buried under mud but came to light when a quarry worker felt ‘unusual bumps’ while stripping clay back. The experts then carefully excavated the site using aerial drone photography, documenting over 200 footprints in unprecedented detail.
“This find offers an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements and interactions,” said Professor Kirsty Edgar, Professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham. “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out.”
The new trackways connect to previous discoveries made in the area in 1997, which revealed over 40 sets of footprints. The site has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and will feature in an upcoming exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
This discovery sheds light on one of Britain’s most significant dinosaur sites and provides valuable insights into the lives of these prehistoric creatures. With modern techniques and technology, researchers can now study the footprints in greater detail than ever before, revealing new information about speeds, sizes, and interactions between dinosaurs.
Source: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-01-02-major-new-footprint-discoveries-britain-s-dinosaur-highway