Ancient Dinosaur Footprints Discovered In Northern Italy

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back around 210 million years have been discovered in a remote national park in northern Italy, stunning scientists and palaeontologists. The rare find offers fresh insight into dinosaur movement and behaviour during the Late Triassic period. Discovered accidentally by a wildlife photographer, the site is now being described as one of the most significant prehistoric trackway discoveries in Europe in recent years.

Chance Discovery In A Remote Alpine Valley

The footprints were found in a hard-to-access area of the Fraele Valley near Bormio, a mountain town in Lombardy that will host events during the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. Wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera spotted the unusual markings while exploring the rugged terrain in September. Experts later confirmed the impressions belonged to early dinosaurs, preserved remarkably well due to geological conditions in the region.

Evidence Of Herd Movement And Behaviour

According to Milan-based palaeontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso, the sheer number of footprints suggests that dinosaurs once moved through the area in large groups rather than as solitary animals. The tracks are believed to belong to prosauropods, early long-necked dinosaurs that lived during the Late Triassic era. Some of the footprints form circular and clustered patterns, leading researchers to hypothesise that these animals may have gathered defensively, possibly to protect younger members from predators. Such behavioural evidence is rare in the fossil record.

Scientific Importance Of The Site

The site is being described as a scientific “goldmine” due to the density and variety of footprints. Studying trackways allows scientists to understand how dinosaurs walked, interacted and migrated, information that skeletal fossils alone cannot provide. The discovery also confirms that this alpine region, now known for snow and glaciers, once supported ecosystems capable of sustaining large dinosaur populations in a much warmer climate.

What to Note for Exams?

• The footprints date back to the Late Triassic period, around 210 million years ago.
• The tracks are linked to prosauropods, early long-necked dinosaurs.
• Footprint patterns suggest herd movement and possible defensive behaviour.
• Trackways provide behavioural insights not always evident from fossils.

Preservation And Future Research Plans

Due to the dangerous terrain and lack of established paths, Italian authorities plan to use drones and remote sensing technology to map and study the footprints safely. Italy’s Ministry of Culture has called the discovery symbolic, noting its timing as the region prepares for the Winter Olympics. The find highlights how layers of deep natural history remain hidden beneath modern landscapes, waiting to reshape scientific understanding of prehistoric life.