Ever wondered what life looked like 200 million years ago? A recent discovery in China's Sichuan Province is serving up a real-life Jurassic Park moment 🦕.
Last month, a hiker in Dujiangyan spotted over 20 fossilized footprints on a rock wall. A team led by Xing Lida from the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) confirmed these tracks date back around 200 million years to the early Jurassic era.
The site is extra special because it preserves at least four layers of prints. Researchers found theropod tracks from meat-eating dinosaurs and chirotherian-type prints—reptile footprints that look a bit like giant human handprints 🔍.
Nearby, pieces of petrified wood—including fallen logs and upright stumps—were found in their original positions. Together, these fossils offer a vivid snapshot of the ancient ecosystem that once thrived here.
Jiang Shan from the Zigong Dinosaur Museum believes this find could reshape our understanding of early dinosaur evolution in China. For science lovers across South and Southeast Asia, it's proof that Earth's history still has plenty of stories to tell.
So the next time you're out exploring, remember: you might be walking in the footsteps of giants 👣🌍.
Reference(s):
Dinosaur footprints from about 200 million years ago found in China
cgtn.com
