In an extraordinary discovery, 10-year-old Tegan Jones found 220-million-year-old dinosaur footprints while fossil hunting on a beach in Wales. Tegan and her mother, Claire, were searching for fossils near Penarth, South Wales, when they stumbled upon the ancient tracks. Initially, they thought the prints were already known, as the area is rich in Jurassic-period fossils. However, upon comparing their photos to existing ones, they realized they had found something unique.

Rediscovery After 140 Years

Experts later confirmed that these dinosaur tracks had not been seen in over 140 years. The footprints are believed to belong to a species of long-necked herbivorous dinosaur called Camelotia. The prints were spaced 30 inches apart, suggesting the large strides of a massive dinosaur, potentially standing up to 10 feet tall and 20 feet long.

Rare and Special Conditions for Preservation

According to Cindy Howells, a curator of paleontology at National Museum Wales, the preservation of dinosaur footprints is rare. The prints needed specific environmental conditions, such as being formed in wet mud and then dried quickly by the sun, to remain intact for millions of years.

Discovery Gains Public Attention

Tegan’s discovery has attracted widespread attention, even being featured on the BBC show “Our Lives.” Experts are considering documenting the find in an academic paper to mark its significance in paleontology.