Scientists in China discover over 4,300 dinosaur footprints in what could have been an ancient watering hole

While unidentified, scientists think one of the fossils belonged to a previously undiscovered species

Footprints can offer exciting clues into the lives of dinosaurs and help them identify new species

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A large amount of dinosaur footprints were recently discovered in China. Photo: Weibo

Published: 8:00am, 18 Jul 2022Updated: 12:45pm, 18 Jul 2022

Scientists announced last week they uncovered over 4,300 dinosaur footprint fossils in northern China, the largest number ever found in the country.

Found in Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, the footprints covered an area of 9,000 square metres and date back to about 150 million years ago, placing them at the turn between the Jurassic Period and Cretaceous Period.

The fossils were first spotted in April 2020, and the footprints were placed densely together. They also included claw marks.

“The process of preserving the fossils is very demanding. These exquisite dinosaur fossils that we have discovered have gone through many difficulties and are therefore very rare and precious,” said Li Jianjun, a researcher at the Beijing Museum of Natural History, in an interview with state broadcaster CGTN.

The footprints belong to four species of dinosaurs, none of which were announced. The scientists said they believe one of the fossils belong to a previously undiscovered species.

The group of footprints also contains both herbivores and carnivores, with the herbivores thought to reach a body length of over 15 metres and the carnivores being smaller, at around four to five metres long.

Scientists analyse dinosaur footprints in northern China. Photo: Weibo

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