210-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Northern Italy’s Alps

Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back around 210 million years have been discovered in a remote alpine national park in Italy, making it one of the most significant prehistoric trackway discoveries in Europe in recent years.
The find offers rare insight into dinosaur movement, group behaviour, and ecology during the Late Triassic period.

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210-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Northern Italy’s Alps

Chance Discovery in a Remote Alpine Valley

The footprints were discovered in the Fraele Valley, near Bormio, located in the Lombardy.
The area is rugged, high-altitude, and difficult to access.

• Discovered accidentally in September
• Found by wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera
• Later examined and confirmed by palaeontologists
• Preservation attributed to favourable geological conditions

Notably, Bormio is also set to host events during the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, adding symbolic significance to the timing of the discovery.

Evidence of Herd Movement and Behaviour

According to Milan-based palaeontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso, the sheer number and clustering of footprints suggests dinosaurs moved in groups rather than alone.

Key Scientific Observations:

• Footprints likely belong to prosauropods
• Prosauropods were early long-necked dinosaurs
• Circular and clustered track patterns observed
• Possible defensive grouping behaviour, perhaps to protect juveniles

Such behavioural evidence is extremely rare, as it cannot usually be inferred from skeletal fossils alone.

Scientific Importance of the Site

The site is being described by researchers as a scientific goldmine.

Why Trackways Matter:

• Reveal gait, speed, and direction of movement
• Show social interaction and migration patterns
• Provide context that fossils alone cannot

The discovery also confirms that this alpine region, now cold and glaciated, once had a much warmer climate capable of supporting large dinosaur populations during the Late Triassic.

Exam-Oriented Key Facts

• Period: Late Triassic
• Age: ~210 million years old
• Location: Fraele Valley, Lombardy, Italy
• Dinosaurs involved: Prosauropods
• Key insight: Herd movement and possible defensive behaviour

Preservation and Future Research Plans

Due to the steep terrain and safety risks, Italian authorities plan to:

• Use drones
• Apply remote sensing and digital mapping technologies

Italy’s Ministry of Culture called the discovery symbolic, highlighting how deep natural history lies hidden beneath modern landscapes.

The site is expected to contribute significantly to future research on early dinosaur evolution and behaviour.

Question & Answer

Q1. The dinosaur footprints discovered in Italy date back to which geological period?
(a) Jurassic
(b) Cretaceous
(c) Late Triassic
(d) Permian
Answer: Late Triassic

Q2. Approximately how old are the dinosaur footprints found in northern Italy?
(a) 65 million years
(b) 120 million years
(c) 210 million years
(d) 300 million years
Answer: 210 million years

Q3. The footprints are believed to belong to which group of dinosaurs?
(a) Theropods
(b) Ceratopsians
(c) Prosauropods
(d) Ankylosaurs
Answer: Prosauropods

Q4. What major behavioural insight does the discovery suggest?
(a) Dinosaurs lived only in isolation
(b) Dinosaurs were primarily aquatic
(c) Dinosaurs moved in herds and showed defensive behaviour
(d) Dinosaurs were nocturnal hunters
Answer: Dinosaurs moved in herds and showed defensive behaviour

Q5. Which method will be used to study the site safely due to difficult terrain?
(a) Deep-sea drilling
(b) Manual excavation only
(c) Drones and remote sensing
(d) Underwater mapping
Answer: Drones and remote sensing

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