Dried riverbed exposes 113 million years old dinosaur footprints that remained hidden for so long
Dinosaur fossils and ancient tracks are more than just remnants of a distant past; they are windows into Earth's prehistoric ecosystems and the lives of the massive creatures that once roamed the planet.
Over millions of years, these fossils have stood the test of time and remained preserved in sediment and stone. These natural time capsules help scientists put together the puzzle of our planet's evolutionary history. But what if these remnants come in the form of trails that seem to lead us their way!
Track discoveries in particular are invaluable. Unlike bones, which give clues about anatomy, tracks show real-time evidence of how dinosaurs moved, hunted, or traveled in groups.
They allow paleontologists to visualize ancient landscapes and provide information about species that may not have been identified through fossils alone. Discoveries like these are often buried under layers of sediment or water and only surface due to environmental changes, sometimes in the most unexpected ways.
One such track has been recently found in
Dinosaur Valley State Park
in Glen Rose, Texas, where 113-million-year-old dinosaur tracks were revealed, not by excavation, but by drought.
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Severe drought conditions in Texas have led to uncovering of the dinosaur tracks dating back roughly 113 million years, the park announced in a statement on Monday.
The footprints, usually remain hidden beneath the flowing waters and sediment of a river within the park, have become visible due to intense drought that has dried up much of the riverbed. This has given us an opportunity for a stunning glimpse into the prehistoric past, revealing tracks that are normally inaccessible.
'Most tracks that have recently been uncovered and discovered at different parts of the river in the park belong to Acrocanthosaurus,' park spokesperson Stephanie Salinas Garcia told CNN. 'This was a dinosaur that would stand, as an adult, about 15 feet tall and (weigh) close to seven tons.'
Tracks from another species, Sauroposeidon, were also found. According to Garcia, these dinosaurs were about 60 feet tall and weighed around 44 tons as adults, huge herbivores that once roamed what is now central Texas.
'Under normal weather conditions, the dinosaur tracks found in the riverbed are under the water and filled with sediment, which makes them less visible,' Garcia explained.
Texas has been facing severe climate challenges in recent months. As of last week, more than 60% of the state was experiencing drought, including the two most extreme categories, according to the US Drought Monitor. Along with high temperatures regularly reaching triple digits, these conditions have dried up bodies of water across the region, leading to unexpected archaeological and paleontological discoveries.
'Being able to find these discoveries and experience new dinosaur tracks is always an exciting time at the park!' Garcia said. However, this moment of wonder is likely to be brief. Rain is forecasted, and with it, the tracks are expected to be buried once again, and this natural process helps preserve them for future generations.
'While these newer dinosaur tracks were visible for a brief amount of time, it brought about the wonder and excitement about finding new dinosaur tracks at the park,' Garcia added. 'Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113-million-year-old tracks not only for present, but future generations.'
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