Dinosaurs have been extinct for more than 100 million years but humans are still trying to learn as much as they can about them.
So when they make a new discovery in the 21st century, it’s a cause for celebration because the whole world must know!
In Texas this summer, they had been experiencing severe drought, with the state’s reservoirs falling 20% below average levels.
This is bad news and they have been hoping and praying for rainfall to get them out of this situation.
Although that is the case, there is one thing they didn’t expect that would come out of this situation.
The severe drought revealed 113-million-old dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park, a state park in Glen Rose, Texas.
“Most tracks that have recently been uncovered and discovered at different parts of the river in the park belong to Acrocanthosaurus. This was a dinosaur that would stand, as an adult, about 15 feet tall and (weigh) close to seven tons,” park spokesperson Stephanie Salinas Garcia explained to CNN via email.
These tracks are usually found in the riverbed and, under normal weather conditions, will be filled with sediments.
The tracks simply won’t be visible.
When filled with sediments, it protects the tracks from natural weathering and erosion. Because of the severe drought, there are no sediments covering them.
“Being able to find these discoveries and experience new dinosaur tracks is always an exciting time at the park!” Stephanie Garcia added.
A long time coming
The last time there was a discovery related to dinosaurs in the same area happened in 1909.
A small boy named George Adams found three-toed tracks in the riverbed.
And in 1937, R.T. Bird found a large sauropod track while collecting fossils for the American Museum of Natural History.
Relative to the king of dinosaurs
And now, tracks from Acrocanthosaurus, a smaller relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, were found!
Members of the Dallas Paleontological Society came to cast the tracks so they won’t get lost underwater.
And scientists from Tarleton State University also came to clean and photograph the tracks so they can build a 3D model of the tracks.
That’ll help them continue to study them.
That was also the challenge.
They needed to work fast to preserve the tracks because they never knew when the drought will be over.
“With rain in the upcoming forecasts, it is anticipated that the tracks uncovered during the drought will soon be buried again,” Stephanie Garcia stated.
And sure enough, about two weeks after the discovery, it began to rain and filled up the Paluxy River again.
“While these newer dinosaur tracks were visible for a brief amount of time, it brought about the wonder and excitement about finding new dinosaur tracks at the park,” Stephanie Garcia said. “Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113-million-year-old tracks not only for present but future generations.”
A brief window into the past
It’s a good thing the paleontologists and scientists were able to work fast before the rain started pouring down.
Who knows when they’ll be able to have the opportunity to study the tracks without the water?
But no matter how amazing this discovery it’s, it’s still a relief to welcome water and rain once again in Texas.
See massive footprints of what walked the earth 113 million years ago in the video below!
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