Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy.
The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and many show clear traces of toes and claws.
It is thought the dinosaurs were prosauropods - herbivores with long necks, small heads and sharp claws.
I never would have imagined I’d come across such a spectacular discovery in the region where I live, said Milan-based paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso.
Last September, a photographer spotted the footprints stretching hundreds of metres on a vertical mountain wall in the Stelvio national park, north-east of Milan.
During the Triassic period - between about 250 and 201 million years ago - this wall was a tidal flat, which later became part of the Alpine chain.
This place was full of dinosaurs; it's an immense scientific treasure, Mr. Dal Sasso explained.
The herds moved in harmony, and there are also traces of more complex behaviors, such as groups of animals gathering in a circle, perhaps for defense.
The prosauropods, which could reach lengths of up to 10 meters (33 ft), walked on two legs; however, in some instances, handprints were found in front of footprints, indicating these creatures likely stopped and rested their forelimbs on the ground.
Elio Della Ferrera, the photographer who discovered the site, expressed hope that this finding would inspire others to reflect on the mysteries surrounding their own local environments.
Due to its remote location, drones and remote sensing technology will be utilized for further exploration. The Stelvio National Park is located in the Fraele valley near Italy’s border with Switzerland, coincidentally close to the site of the upcoming Winter Olympics.
It's as if history itself wanted to pay homage to the greatest global sporting event, combining past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport, commented the Italian Ministry of Culture.
