Read on Global NewsAncient Tracks on a Cliff Face: The Discovery of 210-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints in Italy
In a remarkable paleontological discovery, thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found on a near-vertical cliff face in the Italian Alps. The prints, measuring about 40 centimeters across, were left by herds of prosauropod dinosaurs on what was once the muddy floor of a warm Triassic lagoon. This article explores the significance of the find in Valle di Fraele, the geological forces that tilted these ancient tracks skyward, and what they reveal about dinosaur behavior and the dynamic history of our planet.
In the high-altitude glacial landscape of Valle di Fraele, Italy, a wildlife photographer's keen eye led to a monumental paleontological discovery: thousands of fossilized dinosaur footprints embedded in a near-vertical rock face. Dating back approximately 210 million years to the Triassic period, these tracks offer a stunning snapshot of prehistoric life, preserved through eons of dramatic geological change. The find, detailed in a report from Global News, is not just a collection of fossils; it is a historical record etched in stone, revealing the behaviors of ancient creatures on a landscape that has since been thrust two kilometers into the sky.
The Discovery and Its Setting
The footprints were discovered in September by wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera in the Valle di Fraele near Bormio, a region set to host events for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The tracks stretch for an estimated five kilometers across a rock face that now sits at 2,000 meters above sea level. This vertical presentation is the result of immense tectonic forces, but 210 million years ago, this location was part of a horizontal, muddy shoreline. According to experts from the Milan Natural History Museum, this was the floor of a warm lagoon bordering the ancient Tethys Ocean, an ideal environment for dinosaurs to roam.
Significance and Scale of the Find
Paleontologists have hailed this as one of the most important Triassic fossil track sites in the world. Cristiano Dal Sasso, a paleontologist at the Milan Natural History Museum, called it "among the most spectacular I’ve seen in 35 years." The tracks are the first dinosaur footprints discovered in the Lombardy region and the only ones found north of a major Alpine fault line known as the Insubric Line, making their preservation and location uniquely significant.
What the Footprints Reveal
The footprints, roughly 40 centimeters in diameter, appear in parallel rows, suggesting they were made by moving herds. Detailed impressions of toes and claws have been preserved in the fine mud, now turned to rock. Fabio Massimo Petti, an ichnologist at the MUSE museum in Trento, explained that the sediments were soft tidal flats when the prints were made, allowing for remarkable anatomical detail. The positioning of the tracks indicates the dinosaurs not only traveled but also paused to rest, as evidenced by differently shaped handprints among the claw marks.
The Geological Story: From Lagoon to Mountain
The most compelling aspect of this discovery is the geological journey of the footprints themselves. They were created on a flat, coastal landscape. Over millions of years, the northward movement of the African tectonic plate closed the Tethys Ocean. The colossal forces of this continental collision folded and uplift the sedimentary rock of the ancient seabed, creating the Alps mountain range. This process slowly rotated the fossilized mud layers, shifting the dinosaur tracks from a horizontal plane to the dramatic, near-vertical cliff face we see today.
Challenges for Future Study
The site's inaccessibility—located on a cliff face away from any trails—presents unique challenges for researchers. Scientists plan to employ drones and remote sensing technology to map and study the extensive trackway without disturbing the fragile site. Initial analysis suggests the prints likely belong to prosauropods, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs. There is also a possibility they represent a previously unidentified "ichnospecies," a classification for trace fossils where the exact biological species is unknown.
Reflection on Our Planetary History
Beyond the scientific data, the discovery prompts a profound reflection on the dynamism of Earth's history. As discoverer Elio Della Ferrera told the BBC, it highlights "how little we know about the places we live in: our home, our planet." These footprints are a powerful testament to deep time, showing how continents move, oceans vanish, mountains rise, and entire ecosystems are transformed, all while leaving fragile clues behind.
The discovery of these 210-million-year-old dinosaur footprints in the Italian Alps is more than a paleontological triumph; it is a vivid chapter in the story of Earth itself. It connects the slow, powerful forces of plate tectonics with the daily activities of extinct creatures, preserved against all odds. As research continues with modern technology, this site will undoubtedly provide further insights into the Triassic world, reminding us that the ground beneath our feet holds secrets spanning hundreds of millions of years.
