OXFORDSHIRE: A significant paleontological discovery has been made at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, where researchers have uncovered the largest dinosaur trackway in the United Kingdom. The site, dating back 166 million years to the Middle Jurassic Period, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs.
According to Emirates News Agency, the team of palaeontologists from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham uncovered hundreds of footprints, revealing a “dinosaur highway.” The excavation, completed in June 2024, unveiled five major trackways, with the longest extending over 150 meters.
Four of the trackways were attributed to sauropods, massive long-necked herbivores such as cetiosaurus, which could reach lengths of up to 18 meters. The fifth trackway was identified as belonging to the megalosaurus, a nine-meter-long carnivorous theropod known for its distinctive clawed, three-toed footprints.
This discovery, featuring tracks from both herbivorous and carnivorou
s species, including the formidable megalosaurus, provides invaluable insights into the Jurassic ecosystem. The site not only highlights the diversity of species that once roamed the region but also enhances understanding of their movement patterns and behaviors during the Middle Jurassic Period.