Prehistoric Dinosaur Footprints Revealed in Texas Post-Floods
After experiencing severe floods, Texas has revealed some of its hidden treasures from the past - 15 dinosaur footprints believed to be 115 million years old. Volunteers who were cleaning up after the flood stumbled upon these historical finds in the northwest area of Travis County.
The chief executive of Travis County, Andy Brown, shared that the footprints, each spanning between 18 and 20 inches, were verified by paleontologist Matthew Brown on August 5. These imprints, left by a three-clawed dinosaur, brought some fascinating history to light.
The Dinosaurs Behind The Tracks
The footprints were determined to come from a type of dinosaur similar to the Acrocanthosaurus, a meat-eating creature that roamed the Earth during the early Cretaceous period, 115 million to 105 million years ago. This dinosaur is believed to have been the largest predator in present-day North America at that time.
These carnivorous beasts bore a striking resemblance to the later Tyrannosaurus rex, although the T. rex was notably taller and bulkier. The footprints were found to be laid out in a criss-cross pattern, suggesting that they might have been left by a group of these dinosaurs moving together.
Uncovering More About These Prehistoric Giants
Matthew Brown, who also serves as the director of vertebrate paleontology at a university in Texas, expressed his excitement about revisiting these sites. With advancements in technology since the last studies in the early 1990s, the team can now potentially use drones and surface scans to create 3D models of the footprints, providing a more in-depth understanding of these prehistoric giants.
Brown is hopeful that this additional information will shed more light on the dinosaurs' behavior, physical characteristics, and movement patterns.
The Geological Significance
The footprints were found near Sandy Creek, a waterway that carves through a rock layer known as the Glen Rose Formation. This rock formation is approximately 110 million years old, which helped to age the dinosaur footprints. "The footprints are preserved in rock layers of that age, which is how we determined their age," said Brown.
Dinosaur Footprints in Central Texas
Travis County is located about 200 miles south of Dinosaur Valley State Park, a place renowned for its well-preserved dinosaur footprints. According to Brown, it's not uncommon to find dinosaur tracks in central Texas.
"In Travis County, finding fossilized dinosaur footprints is relatively common. In fact, researchers have documented tracks in this area near Sandy Creek in the past. The discovery of new tracks along the creek's banks, revealed during this historic storm, adds to our understanding of these fascinating creatures," he added.