Dinosaur footprints discovered on school rock after 20 years unnoticed by researchers
66 dinosaur footprints found on school rock display (Illustrative photo: University of Queensland)
More than 60 rare dinosaur footprints dating back to the Early Jurassic period were found on a rock slab that had been sitting unnoticed at an Australian school for two decades, reports CNN.
Researchers recently identified 66 fossilized dinosaur tracks belonging to 47 individual dinosaurs of the species Anomoepus scambu, preserved on a large stone slab displayed at a high school in Biloela, Australia.
Although paleontologists previously knew the rock was about 200 million years old and contained dinosaur footprints, its true significance had remained unnoticed for years.
Lead researcher Dr. Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland explained the importance of this discovery, stating, "Footprint fossils are the only direct evidence our country has of the types of dinosaurs we had here (during earlier times)." He added that dinosaur footprints are often underestimated even among paleontologists.
Ancient footprints offer insights into dinosaur behavior
Advanced 3D imaging and specialized light filters helped reveal previously hidden details, including 13 distinct sequences made by different dinosaurs. "The tracks clearly show dinosaurs walking in two directions, likely crossing or following a river," Romilio noted.
Dr. Paul Olsen, a paleontologist from Columbia University, highlighted the scientific value of footprint fossils, saying they "provide information about animals that were present even though we don’t have the bones … They’re really like a parallel dataset that allows us to track, pun intended, what’s going on when the bones are rare."
This discovery complements previous significant findings, such as January’s identification of the world’s oldest equatorial dinosaur, Ahvaytum bahndooiveche, in North America, reinforcing our understanding of dinosaur evolution.
Experts believe more similar fossils likely remain undiscovered at sites like the Callide Mine in Australia, emphasizing the ongoing potential for significant paleontological finds.
