Dinosaur tracks from 166 million years ago found in UK

The newly discovered trackways span 150 metres, and is largest ever dinosaur footprint site in the UK.

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A discovery in Oxfordshire has uncovered the UK's largest ever dinosaur footprint site, featuring over 200 fossilised prints made 166 million years ago.

The footprints, criss-crossing the limestone floor of a quarry, were left by two distinct types of dinosaurs: the long-necked, plant-eating sauropod Cetiosaurus, and the smaller, meat-eating Megalosaurus.

The trackways form a prehistoric crossroads. Kevin Church/BBC

The footprints, some stretching up to 150 metres in length, offer a fascinating glimpse into the movements of these prehistoric creatures.

Scientists believe these trackways could extend even further, as only part of the quarry has been excavated.

“This is one of the most impressive track sites I’ve ever seen, in terms of scale and the size of the tracks,” said Professor Kirsty Edgar, a micropalaeontologist from the University of Birmingham. “You can step back in time and imagine these massive creatures roaming around, going about their own business.”

Scientists think these distinctive three-toed prints were made by a Megalosaurus. Emma Nicholls/Oxford University Museum of Natural History

The footprints were first spotted by Gary Johnson, a worker at Dewars Farm Quarry, who noticed unusual ridges in the ground while operating a digger.

After realising that the marks were consistent with dinosaur tracks, he contacted authorities, and an excavation team was soon assembled.

Over the summer, more than 100 scientists, students, and volunteers worked at the site, uncovering five distinct trackways. Four of the tracks were left by sauropods, which reached lengths of up to 18 metres, while the other trackway was made by a Megalosaurus. These carnivorous dinosaurs, which were agile hunters, were estimated to have been 6 to 9 metres in length.

The tracks were preserved in what was once a shallow, tropical lagoon, and experts believe that a sudden storm may have caused sediments to cover the tracks, allowing them to be preserved in the fossil record.

Following in the footsteps of giants! Scientists took special plaster casts of the dinosaur footprints. Universtiy of Birmingham/PA. BBC

The team took over 20,000 photographs and created 3D models of the tracks to document their findings.

“These footprints offer a snapshot of the life of the animals,” explained Professor Richard Butler, a palaeobiologist at the University of Birmingham.

“They give us a unique insight into the movements of these creatures, as well as the environment in which they lived.”

The tracks are so well-preserved that scientists have even been able to determine which dinosaur walked across the surface first. It appears that a sauropod left its print first, with a Megalosaurus later walking over the top of it.

This offers an exciting glimpse into how these two species may have interacted.

The future of the site remains uncertain, but efforts are underway to preserve it. The team is working with Smiths Bletchington, who operate the quarry, and Natural England to explore options for protecting the footprint site for future generations.

The discovery in Oxfordshire provides an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about life during the Jurassic period and the dinosaurs that once roamed Britain. Scientists believe there may still be more footprints to uncover, offering the potential for even greater discoveries in the future.