UK’s largest dinosaur footprint site unearthed in Oxfordshire quarry

A unique discovery has brought to light the largest dinosaur trackway site known in the UK, found in Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire. More than 200 well-preserved dinosaur footprints, which are around 166 million years old and are from the Middle Jurassic Period, have been uncovered.

The footprints were first identified by quarry worker Gary Johnson while clearing clay from the quarry floor. The tracks belong to two distinct species of dinosaurs. Four trackways were created by enormous herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 18 meters. Their rounded, elephant-like footprints are a testament to their immense size. The fifth trackway is attributed to a carnivorous theropod, Megalosaurus, a predator that measured up to nine meters in length and left distinct three-toed, tridactyl tracks.

At first, Gary Johnson, who was clearing clay from the quarry floor, discovered the footprints. There are two types of dinosaurs present in the tracks. Four trackways were created by enormous herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 18 meters. These prints, resembling those of elephants, are a testament to their enormous size. The fifth trackway is attributed to a carnivorous theropod, Megalosaurus, a large predator that measured up to nine meters in length and left distinct three-toed tridactyl footprints.

Professor Kirsty Edgar of the University of Birmingham described the site as “one of the most impressive track sites” she has encountered. “You can almost step back in time and imagine these massive creatures moving through the landscape,” she said.

Some of the trackways extend over 150 meters, though researchers believe the tracks may continue further, as only part of the quarry has been excavated. One notable area shows overlapping tracks, where a theropod’s three-toed print partially compressed a sauropod’s large, rounded footprint. This interaction offers a rare glimpse into the movements of these ancient animals. “To see the evidence of a single dinosaur’s steps preserved so vividly is thrilling,” said Dr. Duncan Murdock from Oxford University.

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Although some of the tracks are more than 150 meters long, the researchers are convinced that the tracks might be longer as only a part of the quarry has been dug up. One specific area shows overlapping tracks, where a theropod’s three-toed print partially compressed a sauropod’s large, rounded footprint. This behavior gives us a rare glimpse into the lives of these ancient animals.

It’s likely that the tracks were formed in the soft mud of a tropical lagoon and later covered with sediments that preserved them in detail. Richard Butler, a professor at the University of Birmingham, explained that “The really lovely thing about a dinosaur footprint, particularly if you have a trackway, is that it is a snapshot in the life of the animal,”

A week-long excavation in June 2024, led by teams from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham brought together more than 100 scientists, students, and volunteers. Through the use of drone photography, researchers were able to obtain comprehensive 3D models of the trackways which will be analyzed and saved for future use. The site’s details, such as mud deformation due to the dinosaurs’ feet, offer a lot of data about their locomotion, the size of the dinosaurs, and their behavior. Additional fossils like burrows, shells, and plant remains, provide deeper insights into the ancient ecosystem.

The focus is now on preserving the site. Researchers are planning to safeguard the trackways for the coming generations and carry on the work with the new exploration of the area to find more treasures.

More information: Oxford University Museum of Natural History