Deep in the sandstone cliffs of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, scientists have made an extraordinary discovery: dinosaur footprints that are over 1.7 meters long. These gigantic prints were left by sauropods around 130 million years ago, during a time when the area was a lush river delta. Researchers from the University of Queensland found not only these massive tracks, but also a stunning variety of 21 different types of dinosaur footprints, making this site one of the most diverse in the world.
Located in a remote part of the Kimberley coast, these fossilized tracks reveal a time when dinosaurs roamed the land. As wet sandy flats formed, dinosaurs moved between forest patches, leaving behind impressions that hardened over time. When the tide goes out, researchers can examine these ancient treasures, but even then, it’s no small feat.
Among the thousands of tracks, at least 150 were identified and categorized. Steve Salisbury, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Queensland, explained that the discovery includes tracks from sauropods, ornithopods, and various armored dinosaurs like stegosaurs. These findings are groundbreaking, especially as some of these species have never been reported in Australia before.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this find is the size of the sauropod tracks. Salisbury mentioned that “most people would be able to fit inside tracks that big,” indicating these huge dinosaurs stood around 5.3 to 5.5 meters tall at the hip. This discovery surpasses the previous record of 1.06 meters set in Mongolia in 2016.
In fact, Salisbury described this site as the “Cretaceous equivalent of the Serengeti,” emphasizing its remarkable concentration of dinosaur life preserved in such detail.
Interestingly, the Goolarabooloo people, the Indigenous community in the area, played a crucial role in this discovery. They had been aware of the ancient footprints for generations. When plans were made in 2008 for a liquid natural gas processing facility in the region, local leaders reached out to scientists to ensure the preservation of this significant paleontological site. Salisbury noted the importance of these tracks in Indigenous culture, saying they have been a part of the “song cycle” or cultural heritage for thousands of years.
This collaboration led to an extensive study where researchers documented the tracks in partnership with local Indigenous representatives, spending over 400 hours on site. This careful approach not only underscores the importance of protecting these ancient footprints but also highlights the role of Indigenous wisdom in modern scientific research.
The combination of historical context and new discoveries from this area enriches our understanding of dinosaurs and their environment. It also emphasizes the value of collaboration between scientists and Indigenous communities in preserving such invaluable natural and cultural histories.
For more detailed insights, you can read the full findings published in the Memoir of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology here.
