‘Dinosaur Highway’ Uncovered in England, Dating Back 166 Million Years   

• A worker at a limestone quarry in southern England uncovered a “dinosaur highway” containing nearly 200 tracks that date back 166 million years, researchers announced on Jan. 2. The discovery sheds new light on the Middle Jurassic period when dinosaurs roamed tropical environments. The tracks, found at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, were excavated in June by a team of more than 100 people from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham. Researchers say the find builds on previous paleontological work in the region, offering new insights into dinosaur behavior and their ancient environment. “These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited,” said Kirsty Edgar, a micropaleontology (study of microfossils) professor at the University of Birmingham. Among the tracks are four sets attributed to sauropods, massive long-necked herbivores. Specifically, scientists believe them to be Cetiosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 18 m. Another set belonged to Megalosaurus, a carnivorous predator known for its distinctive triple-clawed footprint. The Megalosaurus holds a unique place in history as the first dinosaur to receive a scientific designation nearly 200 years ago. The discovery raises intriguing questions about the interactions between the carnivorous Megalosaurus and the herbivorous sauropods, particularly in areas where their tracks intersect. “Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found,” said Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. This latest find builds on a discovery nearly three decades ago when researchers identified 40 sets of tracks in a nearby quarry. However, the earlier site is now largely inaccessible, and documentation from that time remains limited due to the lack of advanced imaging technologies. To address this issue, researchers at Dewars Farm Quarry captured over 20,000 digital images and used drones to create 3D models of the tracks, providing precise documentation for future studies. “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out,” said Duncan Murdock, an earth scientist at the Oxford Museum. Fossils of burrows, shells, and plants found nearby will further help reconstruct the ancient muddy lagoon. Dinosaurs thrived for about 165 million years before their extinction 66 million years ago. This remarkable find offers a vivid glimpse into their world long before their disappearance. Luis Apolo Staff Reporter teen/1737615446/1613367592