Scientists from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham announced the discovery of over 200 fossilized dinosaur footprints at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, marking one of the most significant paleontological finds in Britain in nearly three decades. The site, now known as the Dinosaur Highway, has revealed extensive evidence of prehistoric life, providing remarkable insights into the behaviors and environments of dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago.
Quarry worker Gary Johnson made the initial discovery in June 2024 when he noticed unusual bumps while clearing clay at the quarry. "I was basically clearing the clay, and I hit a hump, and I thought it's just an abnormality in the ground," Johnson told BBC News. His observation led to the unearthing of a vast network of dinosaur footprints, attracting the attention of paleontologists from the universities involved.
The excavation, conducted over a week in June 2024, involved more than 100 researchers, students, and volunteers. They uncovered five distinct trackways, comprising over 200 footprints, some of which extend for more than 150 meters. The site includes footprints from both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs, with evidence of interactions between species suggested by crossed footprints.
Among the findings are the tracks of large herbivores, such as the long-necked Cetiosaurus, which could grow up to 18 meters long. Four of the five trackways were made by these giant sauropods. The footprints of the Cetiosaurus resemble those of an elephant but are much larger, intriguing scientists with their size and preservation.
The fifth trackway was made by the carnivorous theropod dinosaur Megalosaurus, a predator that was nine meters long and characterized by its distinctive three-toed claws. "The Megalosaurus walked on two legs, and its three claws are clearly distinguishable in the ground," noted researchers. This species holds historical significance as it was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named and described worldwide in 1824 by Oxford geologist William Buckland.
"There is still much to discover at this site, which is a crucial part of our national heritage," said Professor Richard Butler, a paleobiologist from the University of Birmingham, according to News 247. The preservation of the footprints offers a unique snapshot of dinosaur behavior and environment. "You can learn exactly what the environment that it was living in was like," Professor Butler explained to BBC News. "So tracks give us a whole different set of information that you can't get from the bone fossil record."
During the excavation, the team utilized modern techniques, including drone photography and 3D modeling, to document the footprints. Over 20,000 digital images were captured, allowing the creation of detailed three-dimensional models of both the entire site and individual footprints. These digital replicas will assist paleontologists in understanding each dinosaur's size, stride, and speed, preserving this piece of history for future generations.
Duncan Murdock from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History commented on the preservation. "The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur's feet squelched in and out," he said, according to NBC News. "Along with other fossils like burrows, shells, and plants we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through."
The site offers evidence of interactions between species, with some areas showing the footprints of both the sauropod and Megalosaurus crossing over. This raises questions about possible interactions between the carnivores and herbivores. Researchers estimated that the dinosaurs were moving at around 3 miles per hour, approximately the same speed as a human walking, suggesting they were ambling rather than running.
"These recent discoveries demonstrate that there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found," said Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist and collections manager at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, according to The New York Times. "The new tracks expand it into one of the largest sites of dinosaur discoveries in the world."
The Dewars Farm Quarry site was previously excavated in 1997, when over 40 sets of footprints were discovered, contributing to its nickname among paleontologists as the Dinosaur Highway. The recent findings build upon the earlier discovery, with modern technology allowing for more comprehensive documentation.
The findings from Dewars Farm Quarry will be showcased in the Breaking Ground exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Details will also be featured in the BBC Two program Digging for Britain on January 8, 2025.
"I realized I was the first person to see them; it was surreal," Johnson said.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq