Dinosaur footprints from 166 million years ago discovered in UK quarry

Nearly 100 sauropod dinosaur footprints, some almost a meter long, have been discovered at Dewars Farm Quarry near Bicester, forming a 220-meter trail dating back 166 million years. This extensive discovery offers new insights into the movement of Jurassic dinosaurs, specifically the Cetiosaurus species, estimated to be 15-16 meters long and weighing up to 10 tonnes. Researchers have calculated that these sauropods were walking at an estimated speed of 4 to 5 miles per hour, comparable to an average human walking pace, by analyzing the stride length and estimated hip height. The area, now Oxfordshire, was a vastly different landscape 166 million years ago, situated at a latitude similar to northern Africa with higher sea levels, creating a network of islands and mudflats that the dinosaurs traversed. This discovery is significant due to its scale, as most dinosaur track sites in the UK are smaller coastal exposures. The quarry continues... download the app to read more