‘Dinosaur highway’ uncovered in England, dates back 166 million years

Jan 2

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

A worker digging in a limestone quarry in southern England recently uncovered a stunning find whimsically labeled a “dinosaur highway.” Nearly 200 fossilized tracks, dating back an estimated 166 million years, are offering paleontologists a rare glimpse into the Middle Jurassic Period.

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The discovery at the Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire reveals the paths of giant dinosaurs that once roamed the area.

Among the tracks are those of a 60-foot-long herbivorous sauropod and a set of triple-claw prints believed to belong to the carnivorous Megalosaurus.

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Centuries ago, the Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be given a scientific name.

“These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited,” said Kirsty Edgar, a micropaleontology professor at the University of Birmingham.

Unlike past discoveries, researchers –– who documented their findings in June –– were able to use drones to capture thousands of images.

It’s a significant leap forward from 1997, when a previous excavation in the same area revealed 40 tracks but lacked the photographic tools to document them thoroughly.

Experts are now analyzing the tracks to learn more about how these massive creatures moved and how large they were.

A future public exhibit will feature photos and videos from the dig.

Tags: Dinosaur fossils, England

[Lauren Taylor]

TALK ABOUT A DINO-MITE DISCOVERY!

A WORKER DIGGING IN A LIMESTONE QUARRY IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND STUMBLED ON AN INCREDIBLE FIND NOW BEING LABELED A DINOSAUR HIGHWAY.

IN A BLAST FROM THE PAST, A GROUP UNCOVERS CLOSE TO 200 TRACKS GIVING PALEONTOLOGIST A GLIMPSE INTO THE MIDDLE JURASSIC PERIOD.

RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE THE DISCOVERY DATES BACK TO 166 MILLION YEARS AGO.

UNDERNEATH THE CLAY IN OXFORDSHIRE…A PATH WAS UNVEILED TO SHOW WHERE A 60 FOOT HERBIVORE USED TO ROAM.

ANOTHER SET OF TRACKS SHOWS A TRIPLE CLAW PRINT, EXPERTS SAY ITS TIED TO THE CARINIVORE, MEGALOSAURUS, THE FIRST DINOSAUR TO EVER BE SCIENTIFICALLY NAMED.

“These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.”

UNLIKE YEARS PAST, RESEARCHERS WERE ABLE TO USE DRONES…SNAPPING THOUSANDS OF PICTURES DOCUMENTING JUNE’S DISCOVERY.

FINDINGS FROM 1997 IN THE SAME AREA REVEALED 40 SETS OF DINOSAUR TRACKS, BUT DOCUMENTATION WAS FLAWED DUE TO PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITATIONS.

EXPERTS PLAN TO USE THE FINDINGS TO DETERMINE HOW THESE LARGER THAN LIFE CREATURES USED TO WALK AND JUST HOW BIG THEY TRULY WERE.

THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE DIG WILL BE AVAILABLE IN A FUTURE EXHIBIT FOR THE PUBLIC.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

‘Dinosaur highway’ uncovered in England, dates back 166 million years

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