Thousands of dinosaur footprints discovered in Italian national park
What's the story
A stunning discovery has been made in Italy's Stelvio National Park, where thousands of dinosaur footprints have been found. The prints, some as large as 40cm in diameter, date back 210 million years to the Triassic period. They were discovered on a vertical mountain wall that was once a tidal flat before becoming part of the Alpine chain.
Behavioral insights
Discovery reveals complex behaviors of ancient dinosaurs
The footprints are believed to belong to prosauropods, long-necked herbivores with small heads and sharp claws. The alignment of the prints in parallel rows suggests these dinosaurs moved in herds. Notably, some prints show handprints in front of footprints, indicating more complex behaviors such as resting their forelimbs on the ground or gathering in circles for defense.
Exploration plans
Discovery site to be explored with drones
The discovery was made by photographer Elio Della Ferrera, who hopes it will inspire reflection on our planet's history. The site is remote and inaccessible by paths, so drones and remote sensing technology will be used for further exploration. The Italian Ministry of Culture has expressed excitement over this find, calling it an "immense scientific treasure."