“Unearthing History: Almost 200 Dinosaur Footprints Discovered Along England’s Jurassic Highway”

By Julianna Bragg, CNN

(CNN) — Researchers have uncovered close to 200 dinosaur tracks, which are estimated to be 166 million years old from the Middle Jurassic Era, at Dewars Farm Quarry located in Oxfordshire, England.

This extraordinary discovery, initially noticed in 2023 when quarry employee Gary Johnson detected “strange bumps” in the ground while extracting limestone for roadway construction, has been dubbed the “dinosaur highway” to honor the extensive trails left by these ancient beings.

While other Jurassic trails have been recorded across the globe, this new “highway” find in Oxfordshire represents the largest known dinosaur track site within the United Kingdom.

Approximately 100 volunteers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford collaborated in June of this year for a week to excavate the tracks and document as much data as possible concerning the vast site.

This finding has notable importance as it coincides with the bicentennial of the first dinosaur ever described, the Megalosaurus, which was discovered in Oxfordshire in 1824.

“There’s a very long history in this region of thrilling dinosaur tracks and body fossils,” stated Kirsty Edgar, a professor of micropaleontology at the University of Birmingham in England who participated in the excavation.

The newly revealed tracks are linked to a previously identified dinosaur pathway in the same Oxfordshire quarry from 1997, which is currently not accessible.

Nonetheless, with technological advancements, these new trackways will grant scientists an opportunity to examine information that was not previously accessible regarding these extinct species and reveal details about their movements, feeding habits, and social behavior.

A prehistoric roadmap

During the excavation, scientists revealed five significant trackways, with the longest continuous route extending over 150 meters (492 feet), as mentioned in a University of Birmingham news release.

Four of these trails included prints from gigantic, long-necked, quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaurs belonging to the subgroup known as sauropods — likely Cetiosaurus, which could grow up to 18 meters (59 feet) long, with the largest tracks measuring 90 centimeters (around 35 inches) in length, according to Edgar.

Lawrence Tanner, a paleoecologist and professor of biological and environmental sciences at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, compared sauropods to contemporary elephants due to their enormous size and herbivorous diet. He explained that the majority of the prints were from their hind limbs, noting that, similar to elephants, the hind feet of sauropods were larger and frequently stepped over the impressions made by their front feet.

“The general principle of locomotion is that the faster the creature moves, the more spaced out the footprints will be,” said Tanner, who was not part of the excavation team.

The fifth pathway showcased prints from the Megalosaurus, a sizable carnivorous dinosaur recognized for its unique three-toed feet. Megalosaurus is believed to reach lengths of up to 9 meters (30 feet), and in Oxfordshire, researchers discovered footprints measuring 65 centimeters (2.1 feet) long.

From the footprints, investigators were also able to ascertain both the direction and velocity at which the dinosaurs were moving. Most of the colossal dinosaurs were heading northeast at a mean speed of around 5 kilometers per hour (3 miles per hour), which is comparable to a human walking pace, said Edgar.

Scientists theorize that larger theropods, such as the Megalosaurus, were incapable of running, unlike their smaller theropod relatives, which potentially had the capability to sprint at high velocities. Tanner indicated that this theropod appeared to be moving leisurely, as suggested by the footprints.

Researchers observed that the Megalosaurus path intersected with the sauropod trails, implying that the predator traversed the zone shortly after the herbivores.

While it is challenging to determine the exact destination of the dinosaurs, Tanner suggested they could have been moving along the shoreline to navigate around trees or to seek food sources.

Ideal preservation conditions

Preservation of such a vast ancient trail is uncommon and was facilitated by the peculiar conditions of the terrain during the Jurassic Period.

The distinctive footprints suggest that the area was previously covered in soft sediment, with an ideal amount of moisture to maintain the impressions.

Edgar likened the site’s ancient environment to that of the Florida Keys, characterized by its carbonate mud banks and proximate water sources.

The tracks were also rapidly covered, likely by a storm, shielding them from erosion caused by wind, water, or other fauna, according to Edgar.

While bone discoveries from the Jurassic period often attract considerable interest, dinosaur tracks offer more precise insights into the lives of these extinct creatures, Edgar remarked. Unlike bones, which may be transported to various locations by elements such as wind or currents, footprints remain in their original spots.

Tracks not only indicate the dimensions of the dinosaurs but also offer insights into their behaviors, including social dynamics and predator-prey relationships. If preserved sufficiently, the impressions can reveal how these beings responded to environmental shifts, according to Tanner.

“It’s akin to a snapshot of the day in the life of the (dinosaurs) and what activities they engaged in,” Edgar stated.

Planning future discoveries

During the excavation process, researchers captured over 20,000 images of the footprints using aerial drone photography. The team plans to utilize these pictures to create detailed 3D models for further exploration of the dinosaurs’ interactions and biomechanics.

In the months to come, researchers will be working diligently to quickly analyze the data gathered and prepare for the public release of their findings.

“For the first time, we have these 3D models, which means that anyone will be able to view the site and its legacy as soon as we publish them,” Edgar stated.

Due to the limited timeframe researchers had for documenting the site to avoid further disturbances to the quarry, Edgar pointed out that a significant portion of the surface remains unexamined, potentially revealing even more information regarding the variety of creatures that once inhabited the area.

“As quarrying continues, we hope to keep evaluating and collaborating with the quarry workers as new sections become exposed,” Edgar expressed. “We anticipate conducting excavations each summer.”

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