UK’s Largest Dinosaur Trackway Unearthed: Over 200 Ancient Footprints Discovered in Oxfordshire
An extraordinary discovery has been made at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, where over 200 dinosaur footprints have been uncovered on a limestone surface. Estimated to be 166 million years old, this is the largest site of its kind ever found in the UK. The tracks include imprints from long-necked sauropods, thought to be Cetiosaurus, and the predatory Megalosaurus. Some trackways stretch up to 150 meters, with researchers expecting to find even more footprints as excavations continue.
How the Discovery Was Made
Gary Johnson, a quarry worker, first noticed unusual ridges while operating heavy machinery, which prompted a closer look. The ridges turned out to be repeating patterns of dinosaur tracks. Following this discovery, a team of scientists, students, and volunteers conducted an extensive excavation during the summer.
Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate palaeontologist from Oxford University Museum of Natural History, described the clarity of the three-toed tracks belonging to the agile Megalosaurus, a Jurassic-era predator that could reach up to 9 meters in length. Tracks from sauropods, massive herbivores up to 18 meters long, were also identified. These resembled giant elephant footprints.
Preserving a Window Into the Past
Scientists believe the footprints were preserved when a sudden event, like a storm, buried them under sediment, protecting them for millions of years. Detailed studies, including 3D modelling and casting, are being carried out to document the site.
Prof. Richard Butler, a palaeobiologist at the University of Birmingham, emphasized the importance of such discoveries. He noted that trackways provide valuable insights into the movements and environments of prehistoric creatures, offering perspectives beyond what fossils alone can reveal.
Efforts are underway to collaborate with quarry operators and conservation groups to preserve this site, which offers a rare and tangible glimpse into Earth’s distant past.
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