 "Thousands of 210 million year old dinosaur footprints found in northern Italy")
At least thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back to 210 million have been found in a national park in northern Italy, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
A wildlife photographer came across one of the oldest collections in the park near the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic venue of Bormio.
“I never would have imagined I’d come across such a spectacular discovery in the region where I live,” said Milan-based paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso.
“This place was full of dinosaurs; it’s an immense scientific treasure,” Mr Dal Sasso said.
It was observed that the herds moved altogether in harmony and he said “there are also traces of more complex behaviours, like groups of animals gathering in a circle, perhaps for the purposes of defence.”
Elio Della Ferrera, the photographer who discovered the site, said he hoped the discovery would “spark reflection in all of us, highlighting how little we know about the places we live in: our home, our planet”.
According to a press release from the Italian culture ministry, the area is remote and not accessible by paths, so drones and remote sensing technology will be employed instead.
“It’s as if history itself wanted to pay homage to the greatest global sporting event, combining past and present in a symbolic passing of the baton between nature and sport,” said the Italian Ministry of Culture.