166 million year old dinosaur footprints trackway unearthed in Oxfordshire quarry

Many discoveries have been made regarding dinosaurs and many theories have been given about their existence. Evidence of the existence of dinosaurs has been discovered in different parts of the world. Another big discovery has come to light in this series. Paleontologists have found hundreds of footprints of dinosaurs, which are said to have passed through this place in large numbers. That means, in a way, it is being called the ‘highway’ of dinosaurs. This discovery has been made by paleontologists from the University of Oxford and Birmingham.

Paleontologists have found dinosaur footprints at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire. This site is said to be 166 million years old which belongs to the Middle Jurassic period. Scientists say (via) that both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs passed through this highway of dinosaurs. This excavation was completed in June 2024. In which five major trackways emerged. The largest track among these is more than 150 meters long.

Four of these tracks were made by sauropods, extremely large, long-necked herbivorous animals such as Cetiosaurus. They can grow up to 18 meters long. The fifth trackway is said to be that of Megalosaurus. Megalosaurus could grow up to 9 meters long. It is a carnivorous theropod known for its three-fingered claws.

Micro-paleontologist Professor Christy Edgar of the University of Birmingham Accordingthe footprints tell about those moments in the life of that animal. It shows that they were there. This gives an indication of what they were doing. It could also be ascertained how big they were and how fast they were moving. How they were communicating with each other and with their environment.

These dinosaur footprints were first seen by miner Gary Johnson. When Johnson noticed unusual marks in the soil, he alerted the researchers. After that, more than 100 scientists, volunteers and mine workers discovered 200 footprints here. This excavation continued for a week.