Ancient Dinosaur Footprint Dating Back 100 Million Years Discovered Near Coastal Town

A fossil hunter in England has stumbled upon a jaw-dropping discovery: a massive dinosaur footprint believed to be from an Iguanodon, dating back over 100 million years. The find was made on the Isle of Wight, a well-known hotspot for fossil hunting, by paleontologist Joe Thompson, who works as a guide for Wight Coast Fossils.

Thompson, who was out for a casual fossil hunt on the beach, said, "The geology is perfect for it." And sure enough, after a couple of hours of searching, he came across a large purple object embedded in the clay. Turns out, it was no ordinary find—it was a gigantic footprint of an Iguanodon, a plant-eating dinosaur that could grow up to 36 feet long and roamed in huge herds.

"This footprint was absolutely massive—just under a meter [roughly 3 feet] long," Thompson shared. "It’s one of the largest Iguanodon footprints ever found in this area." The sheer size of the print has sparked speculation that it could belong to an unknown species of Iguanodon. However, further fossil evidence from the same rock layers would be needed to confirm that theory.

While Iguanodon remains are relatively common worldwide, the Isle of Wight continues to offer treasures for fossil enthusiasts. Thompson noted that the region is rich in fossils due to constant coastal erosion, making it a magnet for both scientists and tourists.

Unfortunately, the footprint’s soft clay composition means it likely won’t survive for long. Thompson lamented the fleeting nature of the find, saying, "It’s just a fleeting glimpse of this amazing footprint, probably never to be seen again. So, quite lucky I caught it in time."

Thompson, who recently launched his own fossil tour company, South Coast Fossils, encourages people to explore the Isle of Wight’s shores in search of history. While digging into cliffs is prohibited, fossil hunters are welcome to collect any specimens washed out onto the beach. However, he advised reporting significant finds to a museum to ensure they are preserved.

This isn’t the first major discovery for Thompson. He previously unearthed a 30-million-year-old mammal jawbone on the Isle’s north coast, believed to belong to a small carnivorous mammal. Clearly, the Isle of Wight continues to deliver prehistoric surprises, one find at a time.