For 20 years, a slab of rock gathered dust inside a Queensland school. Teachers and students walked past it daily, unaware of the history it held. Now, scientists say the rock contains one of Australia’s most impressive collections of dinosaur footprints.
The fossilised tracks were first noticed when the school, in Banana Shire, contacted palaeontologist Anthony Romilio. Researchers had been asking locals if they knew of any dinosaur fossils in the area. The school then pointed to the rock, which had been sitting in the foyer since 2002.
Romilio said the slab held 66 distinct dinosaur footprints. These prints date back to the early Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago. “It’s incredible to think such a rare find was sitting in a school for so long,” he said.
Rare Glimpse into Ancient Life
Coal miners discovered the rock more than 20 years ago. They noticed unusual footprints and decided to donate it to the school in Biloela. Teachers and students assumed it was a replica, not a real fossil.
The prints belonged to Anomoepus scambus, a small, plant-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs. “Fossilised footprints often don’t get the same attention as bones,” Romilio explained. “But they give us a rare look at how dinosaurs moved and behaved.”
Scientists say this find is one of the densest collections of footprints recorded in Australia. No dinosaur bones from this period have ever been found in the country, making the discovery even more valuable.
More Fossils Found Nearby
While investigating the area, Romilio stumbled upon another fossil. At the entrance of a local coal mine, a massive two-tonne boulder sat unnoticed for years. “As I drove in, I saw this huge rock,” he said. “And right there was a dinosaur footprint as clear as day. My jaw dropped.”
Romilio and his team published their findings in the journal Historical Biology. The discovery highlights how valuable local knowledge can be in uncovering lost pieces of history.
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