Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have uncovered hundreds of dinosaur footprints at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, significantly expanding the “dinosaur highway” from the Middle Jurassic Period, around 166 million years ago.
The discovery includes several trackways, some extending over 150 meters. Among the prints are those of Megalosaurus, a 9-meter-long predator, and large herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, which reached lengths of up to 18 meters.
The find was made when quarry worker Gary Johnson spotted unusual bumps in the quarry floor during clay extraction. A team of over 100 people conducted a week-long excavation in June 2024, uncovering around 200 footprints and using drone photography to create detailed 3D models of the site.
This discovery will help scientists gain deeper insights into dinosaur movement, interactions, and their environment. It builds upon earlier findings from 1997, which revealed over 40 sets of footprints, some reaching up to 180 meters in length. The original site, now harder to access, was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its importance.
The new technology, including drones and digital imaging, has allowed for a more thorough study of the footprints than in previous research. These findings will be featured in the BBC’s Digging for Britain on January 8, 2025, and in the Breaking Ground exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The excavation was funded by the Geologists’ Association, the University of Birmingham’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the University of Birmingham Alumni Fund.
