Remarkable Dinosaur Footprint Discovery Near Milan Olympics Site Rewrites Triassic History
A wildlife photographer’s keen eye has led to the unearthing of one of the largest and oldest collections of dinosaur footprints ever found, dating back approximately 210 million years to the Triassic Period. The discovery, made in Stelvio National Park near Bormio, Italy – a location set to host the men’s alpine skiing events during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics – promises to reshape our understanding of dinosaur life in Europe.
The sheer scale of the find, estimated at up to 20,000 footprints spread across roughly 3 miles, is astonishing. Experts emphasize the significance of the location, a region near the Swiss border that was once a prehistoric coastal area, where such evidence had never before been identified. “Certainly, this time reality surpasses fantasy,” remarked a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History in Milan, who was among the first to be notified of the find by photographer Elio Della Ferrera.
A Lost World Revealed in the Italian Alps
The footprints are believed to belong to large, long-necked, bipedal herbivores, potentially similar to the Plateosaurus, reaching lengths of up to 33 feet and weighing as much as 4 tons. Detailed examination of the prints reveals impressions as wide as 40 centimeters, with distinct claw marks visible. This level of detail offers unprecedented insight into the anatomy and behavior of these ancient creatures.
Analysis of the trackways suggests these dinosaurs traveled in herds and occasionally paused in circular formations, a behavior that may have served as a defensive strategy. A senior official stated, “There are very obvious traces of individuals who have walked at a slow, calm, and rhythmic pace, without running,” indicating a relaxed and deliberate movement pattern.
Serendipitous Discovery on a Mountain Wall
The remarkable find was made in September by Della Ferrera, who was photographing local wildlife – deer and vultures – when his camera unexpectedly captured the impressions on a vertical rock face approximately 2,000 feet above the nearest road. The location, situated between 7,900 and 9,200 feet above sea level on a north-facing, shaded wall, made the footprints exceptionally difficult to detect without specialized equipment.
Della Ferrera recounted his surprise, emphasizing the sheer abundance of the tracks. “The big surprise was not so much discovering the footprints, but discovering such an enormous amount,” he commented. “There are really tens of thousands of footprints up there, more or less well preserved.”
Olympic “Gift” Remains Remote for Now
The discovery site is located just 2 kilometers from the town of Bormio, which will be a key venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Lombardy regional governor Attilio Fontana has hailed the find as a “gift to the Olympic Games.” However, due to the remote and high-altitude location, the site is inaccessible during the winter months, and no immediate plans are in place to facilitate public access.
While the footprints remain a hidden treasure for now, their discovery underscores the rich paleontological potential of the Italian Alps and offers a captivating glimpse into a world that existed long before the dawn of the modern era.
