In Bolivia, archaeologists have discovered more than 16,000 dinosaur footprints

Researchers have discovered in Bolivia a unique complex of more than 16,000 dinosaur footprints that lived in this area at the end of the Cretaceous period. The tracks show how the animals walked, ran, swam, and even left tail marks. This was reported on December 3 in the journal Science X.

On the coast of an ancient body of water in Bolivia, scientists have found thousands of dinosaur footprints that demonstrate the diversity of their behavior. A study conducted by archaeologist from the Geoscientific Research Institute in California, Raul Esperante and colleagues, describes the traces of three-toed theropods that lived in this area at the end of the Cretaceous period.

At nine sites, scientists counted more than 16,000 footprints, ranging in size from tiny (less than 10 cm) to large (more than 30 cm). The tracks show that dinosaurs not only walked and ran, but also swam, made sharp turns, and some left traces of tails. Most of the tracks are oriented approximately from northwest to southeast, and the undulating structure of the sedimentary rock indicates that the animals moved along the ancient coast.

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The Carreras Pampas complex in Torotoro National Park has become a world record holder for the number of individual footprints, continuous trace lines, tail marks and swimming. The researchers suggested that it was a busy area where groups of dinosaurs could move. They noted that there are still many traces left in this and other parts of Bolivia that need to be investigated.

"This site is an amazing window into the past of this region: it shows not only how many dinosaurs moved through this area, but also what they did while moving through it. It's incredible to work in this place, because everywhere you look, the ground is literally covered with dinosaur footprints," concluded Esperante.

Arkeonews magazine reported on December 4 that in northern Croatia, archaeologists have discovered a rare hoard of medieval silver coins associated with the era of the First Crusade. The unexpected find was made at the Batina site in the Baranya region, where previously only the layers of the Iron Age and the Roman border had been explored.

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