The age of the find is estimated at 100 million years.
100 million years. They were discovered after one of the visitors of a restaurant in Leshan noticed footprints in the courtyard of the establishment, reports CNN.
According to paleontologist Lied Xing from the China University of Geosciences, the researchers discovered the footprints of two sauropods – dinosaurs of the early Cretaceous period. The scientist's team confirmed the discovery using 3D scanning.
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Sauropods are known for their long necks and tails, they were the largest animals to ever walk on land. Their body length was comparable to three school buses, the ground probably shook when they stepped on it. According to Sin, the length of the dinosaurs whose tracks were found was about eight meters.
It is noted that many fossils of dinosaurs from the Jurassic period have been found in this region, but much less remains from the Cretaceous period. According to Seen, the Cretaceous period is when dinosaurs really flourished. The paleontologist also added that China's development has made it increasingly difficult to make new discoveries, as fossil remains are hidden under buildings.
A poultry farm used to be located on the site of the restaurant where dinosaur tracks were found. The tracks of ancient animals were covered with a layer of sand and earth, which protected them from erosion. The land was taken about a year ago, before the opening of the restaurant. The owner liked the natural look of the raw stone, so he decided to leave it intact rather than cover it with cement.
After discovering the marks, the restaurant owner fenced off the site and plans to build a canopy over them to protect them from wind and rain.
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Earlier scientists discovered the remains of a dinosaur, which was probably the largest land predator that once lived on the territory of Europe. Fossil remains were found on the coast of England.
