Thousands of 210-million-year-old dinosaur footprints found in Italy
In northern Italy, in the Lombardy region, one of the oldest and most extensive accumulations of dinosaur footprints has been found — they are about 210 million years old. Over hundreds of meters on a vertical slope in Stelvio National Park, thousands of paw prints are located, some of which reach 40 cm in width, Euronews reports .
Photo: Elio Della Ferrera/AP
According to the main hypothesis, the tracks were left by prosauropods — herbivorous dinosaurs with long necks and distinct claws. In total, scientists counted about 20,000 prints, although no dinosaur tracks had been found in this region before. According to paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso, the area was literally filled with dinosaurs, and this is a true scientific treasure.
Analysis shows that the dinosaurs moved in herds, but sometimes formed a circle, possibly for defense. In the distant past — between 250 and 201 million years ago — the site of the current slope was a plain, which later became part of the Alpine mountain system.
The authorities of Lombardy, where the Winter Olympic Games will be held in February 2026, called the discovery a "gift from the past" and plan to popularize it among tourists and participants of sports competitions. The footprints are inaccessible on foot, so drones and remote sensing technologies will be used for their study. It is possible that traces of other ancient animals will also be found in the region.
Comments
Ślady tyja pakinuła... kamiennie, u čas hieałahičnych pracesaŭ, kali naradžalisia Alpy.
PS. Pad Alimpijadu čaho tam tolki nia "znojduć", turyst-duryst prakaŭtnie...