A real treasure for dinosaur lovers has been discovered by researchers from universities of Oxford and Birmingham. To the career of Dewars Farmin theOxfordshirean ancient ground revealed hundreds of imprints dating from the Middle Jurassicor there are approximately 166 million years. This find offers a fascinating look at life in the past and reignites our curiosity about these giant creatures.
Did dinosaurs have their own highway?
Scientists have discovered what they call a “dinosaur road”. There we find the footprints of the formidable predator Megalosauruswhich measured up to nine meters, as well as those of even larger herbivorous dinosaurs, which could reach twice this size. Five main tracks have been identified, each telling a unique story about the movements and behaviors of these ancient inhabitants of Earth.
Four tracks are attributed to giant sauropods, probably Cetiosauruswhich could measure up to 18 meters. The fifth track is that of a carnivorous theropod, the famous Megalosaurusidentifiable thanks to its large three-toed prints. Curiously, the sauropod tracks intersect those of Megalosaurus, suggesting that they could have met.
A careful investigation into the heart of the career
These new discoveries are in addition to those made in 1997 in the same region, where past exploitation had revealed more than 40 sets of fossilized footprints over sometimes 180 meters. These previous finds have enabled the site to be classified as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest”, highlighting its importance.
These footprints are like a time machine to the life of dinosaurs and their ancient tropical environment. More than 20,000 photos were taken to study in detail how these animals interacted with their muddy environment. As it says Emma Nichollspaleontologist at OUMNH: “Megalosaurus has been known and studied for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, but these new discoveries show that there is still much to discover about these animals.”
The discovery was so captivating that the program “Digging for Britain” devoted an episode to it broadcast on iPlayer on January 7 and on BBC2 on January 8, 2025. In addition, an exhibition entitled “Breaking Ground” at the Natural History Museum in the University of Oxford will present this incredible discovery to the public.
This series of footprints only reinforces our fascination with dinosaurs and enriches our understanding of the world they inhabited long ago. With each new discovery and thanks to modern tools, we get a little closer to the mystery surrounding these creatures that once reigned on our planet.
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