Thousands of Dinosaur Footprints Found on Italian Mountain

Thousands of dinosaur footprints have been discovered high in Italy’s Stelvio National Park, making it one of the richest Triassic fossil track sites in the world. The find includes up to 20,000 tracks spread across five kilometers of alpine cliffs, dating back around 210 million years.


Thousands of Dinosaur Footprints Found on Italian Mountain

A Discovery in the Alps

In December 2025, Italian paleontologists announced the discovery of thousands of dinosaur footprints on steep rock faces in the Fraele Valley of Stelvio National Park, northern Italy. The site lies more than 2,000 meters above sea level near Bormio, a venue for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

The tracks, some measuring up to 40 centimeters wide, were left by prosauropods, early plant-eating dinosaurs that roamed the Earth during the Late Triassic Period. Experts estimate the footprints date back 210 million years, making this one of the oldest and largest footprint collections ever found.

Scale and Significance

  • Number of footprints: Up to 20,000
  • Length of site: Around 5 kilometers (3 miles)
  • Age: Late Triassic (~210 million years old)
  • Altitude: More than 2,000 meters above sea level

Cristiano Dal Sasso, paleontologist at Milan’s Natural History Museum, described the site as “one of the most spectacular I’ve seen in 35 years”. The sheer density and preservation of the tracks make this discovery a scientific treasure, offering rare insights into dinosaur behavior and movement across prehistoric landscapes.

How It Was Found

The footprints were first spotted in September 2025 by wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera, who noticed unusual impressions on a near-vertical slope. His observation led to a full-scale investigation by park officials and paleontologists, confirming the site’s extraordinary importance.

Why It Matters

This discovery is not only a paleontological milestone but also a cultural highlight for Italy. Situated near Olympic venues, the site may attract global attention during the 2026 Winter Games. Scientists believe the footprints could help reconstruct ancient ecosystems and shed light on how dinosaurs adapted to diverse environments.


Source

Information adapted from Phys.org, Asharq Al-Awsat, and RTÉ News.



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