A massive dinosaur footprint site has been discovered in Oxfordshire, revealing the comings and goings of two types of dinosaurs that lived around 166 million years ago. The site features over 200 huge footprints of a long-necked sauropod called Cetiosaurus and a smaller meat-eating Megalosaurus.
The tracks, which stretch up to 150m in length, were first spotted by a worker at Dewars Farm Quarry who noticed irregular bumps and dips in the limestone floor. A team of over 100 scientists, students, and volunteers excavated the site this summer and found five different trackways.
Four of the trackways belong to sauropods, massive plant-eating dinosaurs that reached lengths of up to 18m. Their footprints resemble those of an elephant, but much bigger. Another trackway is believed to have been created by a Megalosaurus, a carnivorous creature that was agile and hunted on two legs.
The team studied the tracks in detail, creating casts and 3D models to gain insights into the lives of these prehistoric creatures. They discovered that one area of the site shows where the paths of a sauropod and megalosaurus once crossed.
The preservation of the footprints is attributed to a storm event that deposited sediments on top, protecting them from erosion. The team hopes to work with quarry operators to preserve the site for future generations.
The excavation was featured on Digging for Britain on BBC Two and will be available on BBC iPlayer.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24nzeqq1l2o