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Dinosaur tracks showing

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Thousands of dinosaur footprints discovered at Stelvio National Park

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Species Extinct For 1000 Years Brought Back By May 2026

Hundreds of meters of dinosaur tracks over 200 million years old were discovered in the Stelvio National Park in northern Italy, in an area between the towns of Bormio and Livigno that will host part of the 2026 Winter Olympics, authorities said Tuesday.

Hundreds of meters of dinosaur tracks over 200 million years old were discovered in the Stelvio National Park in northern Italy, in an area between the towns of Bormio and Livigno that will host part of the 2026 Winter Olympics, authorities said Tuesday.

Nature photographer Elio Della Ferrera first spotted the imprints in September on an almost vertical rocky slope, with some tracks measuring up to 40 centimeters in diameter, and subsequently contacted paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso from Milan's Natural History Museum.

Nature photographer Elio Della Ferrera first spotted the imprints in September on an almost vertical rocky slope, with some tracks measuring up to 40 centimeters in diameter, and subsequently contacted paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso from Milan's Natural History Museum.

The tracks are preserved in Upper Triassic dolomitic rocks dating back approximately 210 million years, with most footprints being elongated and made by bipeds, and the best-preserved ones bearing traces of at least four toes.

The tracks are preserved in Upper Triassic dolomitic rocks dating back approximately 210 million years, with most footprints being elongated and made by bipeds, and the best-preserved ones bearing traces of at least four toes.

Initial analysis suggests the footprints belong to prosauropods, herbivorous dinosaurs with long necks and small heads that had sharp claws and could reach up to 10 meters in length, which are considered ancestors of large sauropods like the Brontosaurus.

Initial analysis suggests the footprints belong to prosauropods, herbivorous dinosaurs with long necks and small heads that had sharp claws and could reach up to 10 meters in length, which are considered ancestors of large sauropods like the Brontosaurus.

The tracks were made when sediments were still soft and saturated with water on broad tidal flats surrounding the Tethys Ocean in a tropical environment, and the plasticity of the calcareous muds preserved anatomical details such as impressions of toes and claws.

The tracks were made when sediments were still soft and saturated with water on broad tidal flats surrounding the Tethys Ocean in a tropical environment, and the plasticity of the calcareous muds preserved anatomical details such as impressions of toes and claws.

According to Sasso, the parallel tracks provide clear evidence of herds moving in synchrony, and there are also traces of more complex behaviors such as groups of animals gathered in a circle, perhaps for defense.

According to Sasso, the parallel tracks provide clear evidence of herds moving in synchrony, and there are also traces of more complex behaviors such as groups of animals gathered in a circle, perhaps for defense.

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Hundreds of meters of dinosaur tracks over 200 million years old were discovered in the Stelvio National Park in northern Italy, in an area between the towns of Bormio and Livigno that will host part of the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to regional authorities.

Hundreds of meters of dinosaur tracks over 200 million years old were discovered in the Stelvio National Park in northern Italy, in an area between the towns of Bormio and Livigno that will host part of the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to regional authorities.

The tracks are preserved in Upper Triassic dolomitic rocks dating back approximately 210 million years, with most footprints being elongated and made by bipeds, and the best-preserved ones bearing traces of at least four toes, according to experts who studied the site.

The tracks are preserved in Upper Triassic dolomitic rocks dating back approximately 210 million years, with most footprints being elongated and made by bipeds, and the best-preserved ones bearing traces of at least four toes, according to experts who studied the site.

The parallel tracks provide clear evidence of herds moving in synchrony, and there are also traces of more complex behaviors such as groups of animals gathered in a circle, perhaps for defense, according to paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso and regional officials.

The parallel tracks provide clear evidence of herds moving in synchrony, and there are also traces of more complex behaviors such as groups of animals gathered in a circle, perhaps for defense, according to paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso and regional officials.

This discovery represents an immense scientific treasure that reveals complex dinosaur behaviors never imagined in the region, with evidence of herds moving in harmony and gathering in defensive circles. The spectacular find combines past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport, as history itself pays homage to the upcoming Winter Olympics. Remote technology will unlock secrets from this inaccessible site that highlights how little is known about the planet.

This discovery represents an immense scientific treasure that reveals complex dinosaur behaviors never imagined in the region, with evidence of herds moving in harmony and gathering in defensive circles. The spectacular find combines past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport, as history itself pays homage to the upcoming Winter Olympics. Remote technology will unlock secrets from this inaccessible site that highlights how little is known about the planet.

The footprint site stands as one of the largest and most spectacular discoveries in 35 years of paleontological research, offering remarkable anatomical preservation including toe and claw impressions. The fossilized tracks provide an unexpected and precious gift from remote eras to the 2026 Games, demonstrating the scientific value of geological formations. Advanced drone and remote sensing technologies will enable comprehensive study of this inaccessible vertical rock face.

The footprint site stands as one of the largest and most spectacular discoveries in 35 years of paleontological research, offering remarkable anatomical preservation including toe and claw impressions. The fossilized tracks provide an unexpected and precious gift from remote eras to the 2026 Games, demonstrating the scientific value of geological formations. Advanced drone and remote sensing technologies will enable comprehensive study of this inaccessible vertical rock face.

200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks Found at Olympics Site

Archaeology & anthropology

Science & technology

This discovery is an immense scientific treasure that reveals complex dinosaur behaviors never before imagined in the region, including evidence of herds moving in harmony and forming defensive circles. The spectacular find combines past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport, as history itself pays homage to the upcoming Winter Olympics.

This discovery is an immense scientific treasure that reveals complex dinosaur behaviors never before imagined in the region, including evidence of herds moving in harmony and forming defensive circles. The spectacular find combines past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport, as history itself pays homage to the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Though the footprint site may provide an unexpected gift from remote eras to the 2026 Games, inaccessible location and the difficulty of verifying counts may overstate the find’s significance. Moreover, preservation bias and the challenge of confirming species make interpretations tentative, suggesting sensational numbers could overshadow the cautious, long-term scientific study needed to truly understand the ancient site.

Though the footprint site may provide an unexpected gift from remote eras to the 2026 Games, inaccessible location and the difficulty of verifying counts may overstate the find’s significance. Moreover, preservation bias and the challenge of confirming species make interpretations tentative, suggesting sensational numbers could overshadow the cautious, long-term scientific study needed to truly understand the ancient site.

There's a 40% chance that a species extinct for over 1,000 years will be brought back before May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 40% chance that a species extinct for over 1,000 years will be brought back before May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks Found at Olympics Site

200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks Found at Olympics Site

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200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks Found at Olympics Site

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