OXFORDSHIRE: Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have uncovered Britain's largest dinosaur footprint site at Dewars Farm Quarry, revealing 200 footprints dating back 166 million years. These findings, announced on Thursday, include tracks from both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs, providing new insights into the Middle Jurassic Period.

According to Anadolu Agency, the discovery was made when quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed unusual bumps while stripping clay, leading to a week-long excavation in June 2024. The team uncovered five extensive trackways, four of which were made by the long-necked herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, while the fifth was attributed to the carnivorous Megalosaurus, a theropod with distinctive three-toed feet.

The University of Oxford's statement highlighted that this site forms part of a significant "dinosaur highway" and represents a major advancement in understanding dinosaur behavior and their environment. Emma Nicholls, vertebrate palaeontologist at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, emphasized the ongoing potential for new discoveries about these ancient creatures.

The excavation, which involved more than 100 participants, employed aerial drone photography to create detailed 3D models of the site, ensuring that the footprints are documented in unprecedented detail for future research. Kirsty Edgar, professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, noted that these footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of these ancient animals, shedding light on their movements and interactions in their tropical habitat.