British scientists have announced a groundbreaking discovery revealing new insights into dinosaur behavior. Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham uncovered nearly 200 dinosaur footprints dating back to the Middle Jurassic Period, around 166 million years ago.
The discovery was made at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, where the trail of footprints is so extensive that scientists have nicknamed it the “Dinosaur Highway.” It’s believed to be the largest collection of dinosaur footprints ever found in the UK, and one of the biggest in the world. The excavation will be featured in BBC Two’s archaeology program Digging for Britain.
The site was first spotted by Gary Johnson, a quarry worker who noticed “unusual bumps” while operating an excavator. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were dinosaur tracks, describing the moment as “surreal and spine-tingling.”
In June 2024, over 100 volunteers from Oxford and Birmingham universities joined forces to excavate the area. So far, they’ve identified five distinct trails, the longest stretching over 150 meters. Four of them likely belong to sauropods—long-necked herbivores such as Cetiosaurus—while the fifth contains tracks from Megalosaurus, a carnivorous species up to 9 meters long and the first dinosaur ever described by science in 1824.
Researchers observed that the tracks of Cetiosaurus and Megalosaurus intersect, sparking questions about possible interactions between species. Using over 20,000 photographs, scientists have created detailed 3D models of the site to study the dinosaurs’ movement, size, and environment.
“These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs,” said Dr. Kirsty Edgar, professor of micropaleontology at the University of Birmingham. Dr. Richard Butler, professor of paleobiology, added that the site has become a key piece of the UK’s heritage and will serve as a long-term resource for future research.
Discussions are underway with Natural England and the quarry operators to preserve the site for the future. This remarkable discovery not only deepens our understanding of dinosaur behavior but also underscores the importance of scientific collaboration and paleontological conservation.