Jurassic journey unearthed: 150-metre dinosaur super highway discovered in Oxfordshire

Scientists from Oxford and Birmingham Universities have discovered an extensive quarry floor containing numerous dinosaur footprints. The remarkable discovery includes several massive trackways from the Middle Jurassic Period, approximately 166 million years ago.
The trackways, part of a vast prehistoric pathway, include prints from the nine-metre predator Megalosaurus and plant-eating dinosaurs twice that size.
The excavation will be shown on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain on January 8 and showcased in a new exhibition called Breaking Ground at Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH).
These preserved footprints provide unique insights into dinosaur behaviour, showing their movements, interactions and their tropical habitat. The excavation at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire revealed five substantial trackways with indications of additional prints nearby. The most extensive continuous trackway stretched beyond 150 metres.
Four trackways were created by enormous herbivorous sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, reaching up to 18 metres in length and related to Diplodocus. The remaining trackway belonged to the carnivorous Megalosaurus, characterised by large three-toed feet with claws.
One section shows intersecting carnivore and herbivore tracks, prompting questions about potential interactions between the species. Megalosaurus, named and described in 1824, was the first scientifically documented dinosaur, initiating two centuries of dinosaur research.
Dr Emma Nicholls, Vertebrate Palaeontologist at OUMNH, said, “Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found.”
The prints were discovered when quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed unusual surface irregularities whilst clearing clay to expose the quarry floor. Specialists were subsequently consulted. Working with Dewars Farm and Duns Tew Quarry Manager Mark Stanway and staff, Oxford and Birmingham Universities led over 100 people in a week-long excavation in June 2024.
The team methodically uncovered approximately 200 footprints and created detailed 3D models using drone photography, documenting the prints extensively for future studies.
Professor Kirsty Edgar, Professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, said, “These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.”
Mark Stanway and Smiths Bletchington’s team provided crucial support throughout the project, offering their geological expertise and operating specialised equipment.
These trackways connect to 1997 discoveries in the area, where previous quarrying revealed over 40 sets of prints, with some trackways extending 180 metres. The original findings significantly advanced the understanding of British Middle Jurassic dinosaurs. The location became recognised globally as a crucial dinosaur track site and received Site of Special Scientific Interest status.
The original site is now largely inaccessible, and due to pre-digital documentation, photographic evidence is limited. The new discoveries enhance the area’s significance, and despite the thirty-year gap, contemporary technology enables more comprehensive documentation than previously possible.
Professor Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham, said, “There is much more that we can learn from this site, which is an important part of our national Earth heritage. Our 3D models will allow researchers to continue to study and make accessible this fascinating piece of our past for generations to come.”
The recent excavation produced over 20,000 images of the prints, providing extensive material for research and education, potentially revealing insights into dinosaur locomotion, size and interactions.
Dr Duncan Murdock, Earth Scientist at OUMNH, said, “The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out. Along with other fossils like burrows, shells and plants we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through.”
BBC’s Digging for Britain documented the excavation for a new series. Presented by Professor Alice Roberts, Birmingham University’s Professor of Public Engagement in Science, the programme will be available on iPlayer from January 7, and broadcast on BBC Two on January 8, 2025.
The excavation will feature in OUMNH’s Breaking Ground exhibition, showcasing major developments in life and Earth history understanding. Visitors can examine the original Megalosaurus fossils, view dig site documentation, and learn about contemporary palaeontological techniques.
The Geologists’ Association, Birmingham University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the University’s Alumni Fund supported the excavation.