The excavation at Dewars Farm Quarry uncovered five major trackways, including footprints from the fierce 9-meter predator Megalosaurus crossing paths with those of herbivorous Cetiosaurus – massive creatures up to twice that size. The intersection of carnivore and herbivore tracks has scientists questioning the nature of their interaction in this ancient ecosystem.
The discovery came when quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed “unusual bumps” while clearing clay from the quarry floor. This led to a massive week-long excavation in June 2024, involving over 100 people from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham who documented approximately 200 footprints.
“Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found,” notes Dr. Emma Nicholls, Vertebrate Palaeontologist at Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The site’s significance extends beyond the sheer size of the trackways. “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out,” explains Dr. Duncan Murdock of OUMNH. “Along with other fossils like burrows, shells and plants we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through.”
This discovery connects to findings from 1997 when over 40 sets of footprints were found in the same area, some extending 180 meters. The new trackways, though separated by just thirty years, benefit from modern technology including drone photography and 3D modeling, allowing for unprecedented documentation.
Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham emphasizes the significance: “These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.”
Looking ahead, Professor Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham notes: “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.”
The excavation will be featured on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain on January 8, and the findings will be showcased in a new exhibition titled “Breaking Ground” at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.