An extraordinary discovery in Oxfordshire has unearthed the United Kingdom’s largest dinosaur footprint site in history. Dating back 166 million years, this breathtaking quarry site, spanning over 200 impressive dinosaur tracks, offers a rare glimpse into a prehistoric world when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
A Walk Frozen in Time
Imagine walking alongside dinosaurs. That’s exactly what a new excavation in Oxfordshire uncovered—ancient footprints that serve as snapshots of Jurassic life. The 200 tracks zigzagging across the limestone quarry measure up to two feet wide. They were made by two distinct dinosaur species—a long-necked sauropod called Cetiosaurus and a cunning predator known as Megalosaurus, the largest carnivorous dinosaur of its Jurassic time.
Archaeologists also revealed that the tracks could extend beyond the current excavation, with one trackway stretching an astonishing 150 meters.
“It’s like stepping back in time and witnessing these magnificent creatures going about their daily lives,” remarked Prof. Kirsty Edgar, micropalaeontologist from the University of Birmingham.
The Man Behind the Find
The discovery came thanks to Gary Johnson, a worker at Dewars Farm Quarry. Driving a digger, Johnson noticed unusual bumps in regular sequences and realized the ridges weren’t geological abnormalities—they were history etched into the ground.
“I thought… I’m the first person to see this—it was surreal. A bit of a tingling moment,” Gary recalls.
Johnson’s keen observation led to a major excavation project with over 100 scientists, students, and volunteers swarming the site during the summer.
What the Tracks Tell Us
From studying the fossilized footprints, scientists could determine intriguing details about the dinosaurs’ behavior and environment. They roamed a shallow, tropical lagoon 166 million years ago, leaving their imprints in the mud. Evidence suggests a storm later preserved these tracks under sediment, locking them in time.
Notably, scientists identified overlapping tracks where the footprints of a sauropod and Megalosaurus crossed paths. This unique find shows not just the physical traces of their existence but how they moved through their world.
Prof. Richard Butler from the University of Birmingham explained, “The lovely thing about dinosaur footprints is they offer a snapshot of life that bones can’t reveal. You get to see the way they walked, interacted, and lived.”
Preserving Prehistoric History
The excavation team partnered with Smiths Bletchington, operators of the quarry, and Natural England to discuss preservation options for this magnificent fossil site. A digital 3D model was also created using over 20,000 photographs, ensuring the tracks can be studied in detail for generations to come.
More discoveries could await. With researchers only scratching the surface, this discovery reminds us how much of our prehistoric past is waiting to be unearthed.
Watch the Full Story
This one-of-a-kind Jurassic crossroads is featured on Digging for Britain, airing Wednesday, January 8, at 8 pm on BBC Two. The full series will also be available on BBC iPlayer starting January 7.
Relive the world of giants and explore a moment frozen in time. Share this with anyone who’s fascinated by our planet’s rich history—I mean, who wouldn’t want to walk with dinosaurs?