Quarry workers in Oxfordshire, England, have made a groundbreaking discovery by unearthing the footprints of both a massive 30-foot predator and various herbivorous dinosaurs, marking one of the most important recent paleontological finds in Britain. The trail, consisting of five distinct prints, was revealed last summer in a quarry situated approximately 60 miles northwest of London and dates back to the Middle Jurassic period, around 166 million years ago.
Scientists describe the setting of Jurassic-era Oxfordshire as vastly different from its present form, likening it to the humid, lagoon-rich Florida Keys, which provided the ideal environment for dinosaur tracks to be preserved in the soft ground. This area is already renowned among paleontologists as the “dinosaur highway,” having yielded over 40 footprints across a sprawling 200 yards of terrain. The latest finding significantly enhances the site’s status as one of the largest dinosaur discovery zones globally, according to vertebrate paleontologist Emma Nicholls from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Nicholls emphasizes the importance of these discoveries, stating they highlight the potential for uncovering new evidence about these ancient creatures. Initially, quarry workers overlooked the peculiarities of the ground they were clearing in late 2023, mistaking the first evidence of dinosaurs for mere mounds. It wasn’t until further exploration that the groundbreaking significance of the site became apparent, showcasing an undisturbed glimpse into a world long gone.
Scientists describe the setting of Jurassic-era Oxfordshire as vastly different from its present form, likening it to the humid, lagoon-rich Florida Keys, which provided the ideal environment for dinosaur tracks to be preserved in the soft ground. This area is already renowned among paleontologists as the “dinosaur highway,” having yielded over 40 footprints across a sprawling 200 yards of terrain. The latest finding significantly enhances the site’s status as one of the largest dinosaur discovery zones globally, according to vertebrate paleontologist Emma Nicholls from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Nicholls emphasizes the importance of these discoveries, stating they highlight the potential for uncovering new evidence about these ancient creatures. Initially, quarry workers overlooked the peculiarities of the ground they were clearing in late 2023, mistaking the first evidence of dinosaurs for mere mounds. It wasn’t until further exploration that the groundbreaking significance of the site became apparent, showcasing an undisturbed glimpse into a world long gone.
