Quarry workers in Oxfordshire, England, made an astonishing discovery that has excited paleontologists worldwide: a collection of clawed dinosaur footprints, which officials are heralding as one of the most important findings in Britain in nearly 30 years. This exciting ordeal occurred last summer, with scientists announcing the discovery this week. Among the prints, scientists have identified tracks from both 30-foot-long predatory dinosaurs, like the megalosaurus, and various long-necked herbivores.
During the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago, the now-familiar landscape of Oxfordshire was markedly different. Instead of the contemporary fields, the region was characterized by humid lagoons and muddy swamps, well-suited for dinosaurs to leave their marks in the earth. Excavation at this site began back in 1997, and it has since become known as the “dinosaur highway.” Scientists have documented over 40 sets of dinosaur tracks extending across nearly 200 yards, with these new findings solidifying the site as one of the largest dinosaur discovery hotspots globally, according to Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist and collections manager at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The quarry workers were initially unaware of the significance of the strange formation they found, which turned out to be the first trace of a dinosaur – just a peculiar bump in the ground, noted Mark Stanway, the quarry's manager. This unexpected find underscores the importance of continued exploration in uncovering new paleontological evidence, assuring that remnants of these magnificent creatures still lie hidden, waiting to be unearthed and studied.
During the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago, the now-familiar landscape of Oxfordshire was markedly different. Instead of the contemporary fields, the region was characterized by humid lagoons and muddy swamps, well-suited for dinosaurs to leave their marks in the earth. Excavation at this site began back in 1997, and it has since become known as the “dinosaur highway.” Scientists have documented over 40 sets of dinosaur tracks extending across nearly 200 yards, with these new findings solidifying the site as one of the largest dinosaur discovery hotspots globally, according to Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist and collections manager at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The quarry workers were initially unaware of the significance of the strange formation they found, which turned out to be the first trace of a dinosaur – just a peculiar bump in the ground, noted Mark Stanway, the quarry's manager. This unexpected find underscores the importance of continued exploration in uncovering new paleontological evidence, assuring that remnants of these magnificent creatures still lie hidden, waiting to be unearthed and studied.
