Dinosaur highway discovered with 166 million-year-old footprints that alter history

A team of British palaeontologists has made a groundbreaking discovery: a series of remarkable dinosaur footprints dating back 166 million years to the Middle Jurassic Period.

Dubbed the “Dinosaur Highway,” this find was made at the Dewars Farm quarry in Oxfordshire, England, and features over 200 footprints spread across five large paths, the longest of which stretches more than 492 feet.

The footprints belong to herbivorous dinosaurs like Cetiosaurus and predators such as the formidable Megalosaurus.

The discovery began when Gary Johnson, a quarry worker, noticed unusual patterns in the ground. His observation drew the attention of experts from the universities of Oxford and Birmingham, who led an excavation in June 2024.

Over 100 scientists and volunteers participated in the research, meticulously documenting the footprints. Four of the tracks were attributed to sauropods, large herbivores up to 59 feet long, while one, with its distinctive three-toed shape, belonged to the Megalosaurus, a fierce carnivore about 30 feet long.

Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham stated that the footprints provide a “remarkable window” into the behaviour and tropical environment these dinosaurs once inhabited.

Unlike skeletal fossils, which show animals after they have died, these footprints capture moments frozen in time, revealing how dinosaurs interacted with their surroundings.

Perfectly preserved footprints

The team employed advanced technology, including 3D modelling and drones, to document the footprints with unprecedented accuracy. In total, around 20,000 images were captured, allowing for detailed analysis and serving as a foundation for future research.

This level of preservation even shows how the mud deformed beneath the dinosaurs’ feet, offering clues about their weight and movement.

Scientists also discovered fossil remains of plants, shells, and burrows, painting a more complete picture of the ecosystem.

According to Duncan Murdock of the Oxford Museum of Natural History (OMNH), these finds enable researchers to recreate the muddy lagoon landscape where dinosaurs lived, adding crucial environmental context.

Emma Nicholls, a palaeontologist at OMNH, noted that the discovery demonstrates there is still much to learn about dinosaurs, even species as well-studied as Megalosaurus, the first scientifically described dinosaur.

Professor Richard Butler, also part of the research team, mentioned that the team will continue to investigate the environment, the speed at which dinosaurs moved, and how this new data complements previous discoveries in the region.

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Original article written by Rubén Criado, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.