The sets of sauropod footprints are also different sizes, showing that the animals might have moved in a herd with juveniles or traveled alongside smaller herbivores. The megalosaurus, the apex predator at the time, moved alone.
“A body fossil is the death of the animal,” Dr. Edgar said, “whereas we’re getting a kind of snapshot of what these multiple animals were doing in life.”
In addition to its swampy features, Jurassic Oxfordshire was also affected by higher sea levels.
Inside the prints, scientists found evidence of marine life, namely brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves and echinoids, shelled invertebrates that resemble mollusks and sea urchins today, said Dr. Nicholls.
-In the nearly 30 years since tracks were first discovered in the area, technology has rapidly progressed, allowing scientists to more successfully record their findings.
During the seven days last summer when the teams of scientists worked on site, they took hundreds of pictures, created molds, recorded drone footage of the site and created three-dimensional models, allowing ongoing study of prints that may now be lost to the elements.
Work at the quarry went on unaffected, Mr. Stanway said, adding that he would not be surprised to find even more tracks in the coming years.
