Quarry workers have uncovered dinosaur footprints in Oxfordshire, revealing a peak into the Middle Jurassic period and hinting at the diverse ecosystems that existed 166 million years ago.
Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Oxfordshire Reveal Jurassic Era Secrets
Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Oxfordshire Reveal Jurassic Era Secrets
Major discovery adds to the significance of a previously known ‘dinosaur highway’
Quarry workers in Oxfordshire, England, have made a remarkable discovery of dinosaur footprints, shedding light on the area's rich prehistoric past. Announced to the public recently, scientists revealed that the footprints belong to both carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs.
Discovered last summer while workers were clearing clay, the fossils include traces from a 30-foot predatory dinosaur and various other species. The prints were uncovered in a quarry about 60 miles from London, in an area paleontologists consider one of the most significant finds in Britain in years.
Researchers believe that during the Middle Jurassic period, roughly 166 million years ago, Oxfordshire presented a vastly different landscape, reminiscent of the humid Florida Keys, dotted with lagoons and muddy swamps. This environment would have been ideal for the animals that roamed there, allowing their footprints to become fossilized.
The site, originally excavated in 1997, has been dubbed the “dinosaur highway” due to the over 40 sets of dinosaur footprints previously found across nearly 200 yards. With this latest discovery, experts indicate the site may now rank among the largest dinosaur discovery locations worldwide.
Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist, noted the significance of these findings, stating that they serve as a reminder that new evidence of dinosaur species continues to emerge. Initially, the quarry workers were unaware of the historical significance of their find; they thought it was merely a bump in the ground.
According to Mark Stanway, who manages the quarry, the discovery could offer invaluable insights into the creatures that once roamed the area and suggests there are still many ancient secrets awaiting discovery.
Discovered last summer while workers were clearing clay, the fossils include traces from a 30-foot predatory dinosaur and various other species. The prints were uncovered in a quarry about 60 miles from London, in an area paleontologists consider one of the most significant finds in Britain in years.
Researchers believe that during the Middle Jurassic period, roughly 166 million years ago, Oxfordshire presented a vastly different landscape, reminiscent of the humid Florida Keys, dotted with lagoons and muddy swamps. This environment would have been ideal for the animals that roamed there, allowing their footprints to become fossilized.
The site, originally excavated in 1997, has been dubbed the “dinosaur highway” due to the over 40 sets of dinosaur footprints previously found across nearly 200 yards. With this latest discovery, experts indicate the site may now rank among the largest dinosaur discovery locations worldwide.
Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist, noted the significance of these findings, stating that they serve as a reminder that new evidence of dinosaur species continues to emerge. Initially, the quarry workers were unaware of the historical significance of their find; they thought it was merely a bump in the ground.
According to Mark Stanway, who manages the quarry, the discovery could offer invaluable insights into the creatures that once roamed the area and suggests there are still many ancient secrets awaiting discovery.
