Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back around 210 million years have been discovered on a mountain wall inside Stelvio National Park in northern Italy. The tracks, some measuring up to 40cm wide, appear in long, parallel rows and preserve clear impressions of toes and claws. Scientists believe the footprints were made by prosauropods—long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs that lived during the Triassic period.

The discovery was made last September when a photographer noticed the tracks stretching for hundreds of metres across a steep rock face. Experts explain that during the Triassic era, the area was once a muddy tidal flat before becoming part of the Alpine mountain chain. The footprints suggest that dinosaurs moved in organised herds, including juveniles, and may have displayed complex behaviours such as gathering in circles, possibly for protection.

Researchers also identified occasional handprints alongside footprints, indicating that some dinosaurs rested their forelimbs on the ground. Due to the site’s remote and inaccessible location, scientists will rely on drones and remote-sensing technology to study it further. The Italian Ministry of Culture described the find as an extraordinary scientific treasure, symbolically linking ancient natural history with the region’s upcoming Winter Olympics.

Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright