Hundreds of gigantic dinosaur footprints have been uncovered in an Oxfordshire quarry, making it the largest dinosaur trackway site in the UK.
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Estimated to date back to the Middle Jurassic Period, around 166 million years ago, five trackways were found in the limestone, providing evidence of the movements of two dinosaur species.
According to researchers, four of the trackways were thought to be created by enormous, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs known as sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus – an 18-meter-long relative of the well-known Diplodocus. The fifth trackway belongs to the carnivorous theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus, identifiable by its distinctive three-toed feet with sharp claws.
The site also revealed overlapping tracks from both carnivores and herbivores, sparking questions about potential interactions between these ancient giants.
Some of the trackways measure up to 150 metres in length, with the possibility of extending further as the quarry remains only partially excavated.
Professor Kirsty Edgar, a micropalaeontologist at the University of Birmingham who took part in the research, said: "These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited."
The footprints were discovered by quarry worker Gary Johnson who noticed "unusual bumps" while stripping clay to expose the quarry floor at Dewars Farm and Duns Tew Quarry.
In June 2024, an excavation team led by the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham conducted a week-long excavation. Using aerial drone photography, the team created detailed 3D models of the site, capturing the 200 footprints in unprecedented detail and ensuring they are preserved for future research.
The newly uncovered trackways build on discoveries made in the area in 1997, when limestone quarrying revealed over 40 sets of dinosaur footprints. Some of the earlier trackways stretched up to 180 meters, offering insights into the types of dinosaurs that roamed the UK during the Middle Jurassic Period.
Dr Duncan Murdock, Earth Scientist at Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH), said: “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out. Along with other fossils like burrows, shells and plants we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through.”
The excavation will be featured on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain on 8 January, presented by Alice Roberts and available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
The findings will also be showcased in a new public exhibition, Breaking Ground, at Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH).
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