Dinosaur Footprints Uncovered in Oxfordshire Quarry
Discovery of a Lifetime
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in a quarry in Oxfordshire, southern England, uncovering hundreds of dinosaur footprints dating back to the middle Jurassic era. The find shows that reptiles, including the 9m predator Megalosaurus, moved along enormous tracks.
The Dig at Dewars Farm Quarry
The dig at Dewars Farm Quarry found five extensive trackways, one of which measured more than 150m in length. Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham made the discovery, which has shed new light on the lives of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period.
Sauropod and Theropod Tracks
Four of the tracks were made by gigantic, long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods, most likely to be Cetiosaurus, an up to 18m-long cousin of the well-known Diplodocus. The fifth trackway was made by the carnivorous theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus, which had distinctive three-toed feet with claws.
Interaction between Carnivore and Herbivore
The carnivore and herbivore tracks, which are about 166 million years old, cross over at one point, raising questions about whether and how the two types of dinosaur were interacting. This find provides valuable insight into the relationships between different dinosaur species during the Jurassic period.
Megalosaurus: A Iconic Dinosaur
Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named and described in 1824, kick-starting the last 200 years of dinosaur science and public interest. Emma Nicholls, vertebrate palaeontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, commented on the significance of the find: "Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found."
The Discovery of the Footprints
The buried prints came to light when quarry worker Gary Johnson felt "unusual bumps" as he was stripping the clay back with his vehicle in order to expose the quarry floor. More than one hundred researchers then excavated the site in June, where they found around 200 footprints.
Conclusion
The discovery of hundreds of dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire is a significant find that sheds new light on the lives of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The find has provided valuable insights into the relationships between different dinosaur species and has confirmed that there is still much to be discovered about these prehistoric creatures.
FAQs
- What is the significance of the discovery of dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire?
The discovery of hundreds of dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire has provided valuable insights into the lives of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period and has shed new light on the relationships between different dinosaur species. - What type of dinosaurs were the footprints made by?
The footprints were made by both sauropod and theropod dinosaurs, including the iconic Megalosaurus. - How old are the footprints?
The footprints are around 166 million years old, dating back to the middle Jurassic era. - How were the footprints discovered?
The footprints were discovered by quarry worker Gary Johnson, who felt "unusual bumps" as he was stripping the clay back with his vehicle in order to expose the quarry floor.