OXFORDSHIRE: In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have unearthed approximately 200 dinosaur footprints dating back 166 million years at a quarry in Oxfordshire, marking the largest footprint site ever found in the United Kingdom. This significant find, announced by the University of Oxford, reveals a vast collection of tracks that belonged to both carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, offering new insights into the prehistoric era.

According to Philippines News Agency, the footprints uncovered at Dewars Farm Quarry form part of a “dinosaur highway” from the Middle Jurassic Period. Among the discoveries are tracks from the formidable nine-meter-long predator Megalosaurus and herbivorous dinosaurs, such as the Cetiosaurus, which could grow up to 18 meters long.

The excavation, conducted by researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham, identified five extensive trackways, with evidence suggesting the presence of even more in the area. Four of these trackways were attributed to sauropods, while the fifth was left by the carnivorous theropod Megalosaurus, known for its distinctive large, three-toed feet.

Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate palaeontologist at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, highlighted the significance of these findings, noting that even species as well-studied as Megalosaurus continue to offer new evidence and insights. The footprints, initially hidden beneath layers of mud, were discovered after quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed “unusual bumps” while clearing clay from the site.

The discovery led to a week-long excavation in June 2024, involving a team of over 100 experts who meticulously documented the site. Using aerial drone photography, they created detailed 3D models of the footprint site to preserve it for future research.

Kirsty Edgar, a professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating that the footprints provide an “extraordinary window” into the lives of dinosaurs, shedding light on their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they once inhabited.