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Histories of Northamptonshire
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Dinosaur Footprint

166 million years ago Geologic to Prehistoric

This 166-million-year-old dinosaur footprint cast, found in Irchester, is Northamptonshire’s first dinosaur evidence, likely made by a Megalosaurus

Dinosaur footprint cast, one of several found at Irchester Country Park. © NMAG
Dinosaur footprint cast, one of several found at Irchester Country Park.
Reconstruction of Megalosaurus with a mostly hypothetical head © Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Reconstruction of Megalosaurus with a mostly hypothetical head

This dinosaur footprint (technically a footprint cast) is the first evidence of dinosaurs ever found in Northamptonshire. Found in Irchester Country Park in early 2024, it has been confirmed as probably belonging to a large meat-eating dinosaur called a Megalosaurus which lived around 166 million years ago.

During this period, called the Middle Jurassic, Northamptonshire was part of a narrow seaway between two land masses and the climate was much warmer.

At some point during this time a dinosaur walked across soft ground, possibly a sandy shore, leaving behind impressions of its feet. Over time, sediment (like sand, volcanic ash, or mud) washed into the footprint and filled it. These layers hardened into rock over millions of years until eventually, erosion (from wind, water, or geological activity) wore away the upper layers covering the filled footprint and only hardened infill remained as a raised cast of the original footprint. Another two such footprint casts have since been found in Irchester Country Park. The footprint cast measures approximately 1 metre in width.

Number 4 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects Exhibition 2025

Irchester Country Park
Contributed by Stephen Pulley

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