Imagine strolling along a beach and stumbling upon dinosaur footprints preserved in stone for 200 million years.
For 10-year-old Tegan, this became her thrilling reality on the south Wales coast. She had travelled from Pontardawe near Swansea to the Vale of Glamorgan with her mother Claire, hoping to find fossils. Their chosen spot, known for its red siltstone rock and prehistoric significance, turned out to be perfect.
Discoveries in this area typically occur every five years. In 2014, the skeleton of a 201-million-year-old dracoraptor, a meat-eating relative of the T-rex, was found there. Tegan, however, discovered five footprints spaced up to three-quarters of a metre apart, suggesting a large dinosaur.
Tegan shared, “We were just looking to see what we could find, we didn’t expect anything. We found these big holes that looked like dinosaur footprints, so mum took pictures, emailed the museum, and it turned out to be from a long-necked dinosaur.”
The species hasn’t been confirmed yet, but Cindy Howells, a paleontology curator at National Museum Wales, believes they were left by a camelotia, a large herbivore from the late Triassic period. She explained, “These footprints are so big, it would have to be a type of dinosaur called a sauropodomorpha.”
Howells, an expert with 40 years of experience, noted, “If they were random holes, we’d be cautious, but because we have a left foot, a right foot, and then another left and right… there’s a consistent distance between them. It’s a significant find – the excitement when someone contacts us with a definite dinosaur find is amazing.”
Tegan felt that excitement most keenly. Her mum Claire commented, “It’s hard to comprehend you’re walking on the same beach where, hundreds of millions of years ago, a massive prehistoric animal roamed. You can spend a lifetime looking for dinosaur treasures, so for Tegan to find them at this age is great.”
This part of south Wales was a hot desert prone to flash floods when the 10ft tall camelotia roamed. The dinosaur, with its long neck and tail, walked on two legs but often grazed on four. Over time, the area transformed from a desert environment to warm, shallow tropical seas dotted with islands, similar to the modern Mediterranean.
Though dinosaurs no longer live there, the traces they left provide insights into a history often preserved only in fossils. Museums depend on enthusiasts like Tegan for new material to study.
Howells said, “In museums, we don’t have time to go out and explore ourselves, so we rely on people like Tegan. We can’t do our job without them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who found the dinosaur footprints in south Wales?
10-year-old Tegan found the footprints.
What kind of dinosaur likely made the footprints Tegan found?
The footprints were likely made by a camelotia, a huge herbivore.
How often are dinosaur footprints or bones found in that area?
Discoveries emerge every five or so years.
Why is the find considered significant?
The footprints’ consistent pattern and size make it a significant find.
Why are enthusiasts like Tegan important to museums?
Museums rely on enthusiasts because they don’t have time for field exploration.
