Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Lozère, France
August 8, 2024 – A scientific team has unearthed “remarkably well-preserved” footprints of three different theropods spanning 150 square meters in Lozère, France. The discovery was serendipitous, made by a walker in May 2023.
“We didn’t know what we were going to find,”
declared Jean-David Moreau, referring to the Figaro newspaper. A scientific excavation concluded on August 6th, revealing 79 triassic footprints estimated to be 200 million years old.
The site was discovered just a year ago by amateur paleontologist Marc Lemonier, who stumbled upon it while mushroom picking. He immediately contacted Moreau, who expressed his astonishment: “It was obvious, he had just discovered a new site.”
An Exceptional Excavation
The APHPL (Association de paléontologie des hauts plateaux du Languedoc) launched a scientific study following initial inquiries. Led by a team of 15 paleontologists, the excavation spanned six days, with four days dedicated to digging and the remainder for scientific documentation and site restoration.
The remarkable discovery of 79 footprints, still clearly visible, across different rock layers, revealed three different dinosaur forms, suggesting the presence of three distinct theropod species in Lozère during the Jurassic period.
More importantly, this unprecedented discovery opens new avenues of research, allowing scientists to delve deeper into the lives of these prehistoric creatures. Questions surrounding their speed, behavior, and size are now within reach.