One of the world’s longest dinosaur trackways uncovered in UK | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Dinosaur Trackway
• Sauropod Dinosaurs
• Jurassic Period
• Paleontology
• Sedimentation
• Marine Conditions
• Forefoot/Hand Imprint

Extraordinary Discovery in Oxfordshire

A groundbreaking discovery of dinosaur footprints, stretching over 200 meters, has been made in a limestone quarry in Oxfordshire. These footprints, dating back 166 million years to the Jurassic period, are believed to be the longest continuous set ever found worldwide. Science editor Rebecca Morell was granted exclusive access to the site, where layers of rock are revealing secrets from a prehistoric past that had been buried deep for millennia.

The "Dinosaur Superhighway"

The site is not merely a collection of a few prints but has been dubbed a "dinosaur superhighway" and "one of the biggest trackway sites in the world." The trackway itself is incredibly long, featuring more than 100 footsteps extending for 220 meters. Researchers can determine the dinosaur's direction of travel by observing how the mud was "squashed up in the front" of each footstep, creating a distinct ridge. The discovery offers a unique opportunity to "literally stand in the footstep of a dinosaur" and uncover something "people have never seen before," highlighting the rarity and scale of this find in the UK.

Preservation and Identification of the Dinosaurs

The remarkable preservation of these footprints is attributed to a "perfect set of conditions." The prints were initially made in mud, subsequently baked hard by the sun, and then covered by a protective layer of sediment. These particular footprints were left by sauropod dinosaurs, described as "huge long-necked four-legged plant-eating beasts." This new set of prints adds to hundreds of others previously discovered at the site last year.

Analyzing Dinosaur Movement

Detailed analysis of the footprints has provided significant insights into the dinosaurs' movement. One notable observation includes a "strange thing" identified as a "forefoot or a hand imprint" on the right side, positioned unusually far from the main track. This suggests the animal might have been "leaning out and pausing for a moment" before resuming its normal stride. Using the analyzed footprints, scientists have recreated the dinosaur's movement through an animated skeleton, revealing it was "strolling" at a relatively slow pace of 2 meters per second, comparable to a human walking quickly. This research underscores the critical role of tracks as "the only way we can do that for dinosaurs" to understand their natural and free movement.

Reconstructing the Ancient Environment

The footprints indicate that all prints at the site were made over a period of weeks, during a time when the environment in Oxfordshire was vastly different. 166 million years ago, Oxford was covered by a "shallow sea." Evidence for these marine conditions comes from the discovery of a "little sea urchin" (almost complete, despite a broken spine), which confirms the presence of "open seawater before the dinosaurs came and walked here." This allows scientists to "paint a picture" of the ancient landscape, likening it to "a lagoon or setting a bit like the Florida Keys or the Bahamas today with open ocean over that side of us and islands behind us." The site is particularly rare due to the presence of "different trackways crisscrossing the quarry," offering a comprehensive view of the ancient ecosystem.

Conclusion

The Oxfordshire dinosaur footprint discovery provides an unparalleled window into the Jurassic period, offering specific details about the movement and environment of sauropod dinosaurs. The extensive trackway, meticulous preservation, and the ability to reconstruct both dinosaur behavior and ancient marine conditions make this site a globally significant paleontological find. It serves as a powerful reminder that even millions of years later, the "echoes of their lost world" can still be found in the footprints they left behind.