Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have discovered a vast area of quarry floor at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, filled with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. The excavation revealed five extensive trackways, with signs of additional ones nearby.
The newly discovered trackways date back to around 166 million years ago and form a “dinosaur highway” from the Middle Jurassic Period. The site features footprints from the 9-meter-long carnivorous Megalosaurus and much larger herbivores.
Giant sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, made four trackways, while the fifth belonged to Megalosaurus, with its distinctive three-toed, clawed feet. One area shows tracks of carnivores and herbivores crossing paths, raising questions about their interactions.
The footprints were discovered when quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed “unusual bumps” while stripping clay to expose the quarry floor. Experts were called in, and in June 2024, a team of over 100 people from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham, led by Quarry Manager Mark Stanway, conducted a week-long excavation.
They uncovered around 200 footprints and created detailed 3D models of the site using aerial drone photography, documenting the findings for future research.
Professor Kirsty Edgar, Professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, said: “These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.”
Mark Stanway and his team at Smiths Bletchington played a crucial role in supporting the discovery and excavation. They offered expertise in local geology and operated specialized equipment like excavators and rock saws.
These new trackways build on discoveries made in 1997 when previous quarrying revealed over 40 sets of footprints, some trackways extending up to 180 meters. That site significantly expanded our understanding of Middle Jurassic dinosaurs in the UK and was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. However, it is now largely inaccessible, and the original findings were documented before the advent of digital cameras and drones, leaving limited photographic evidence.
The latest discoveries, made with modern technology, further enhance the site’s importance, allowing for far more detailed recording and research than was possible thirty years ago.
Professor Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham, said: “There is much more that we can learn from this site, which is an important part of our national Earth heritage. Our 3D models will allow researchers to continue to study and make accessible this fascinating piece of our past for generations to come.”
More than 20,000 images of the prints were created during the new excavation. These will provide a wealth of material for further study and education and could yield valuable insights into how these dinosaurs walked, including speeds, how large they were, and if and how they interacted.
Dr Duncan Murdock, an Earth Scientist at OUMNH, said, “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out. Along with other fossils like burrows, shells, and plants, we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through.”
