Dinosaur tracks from Obernkirchen
The dinosaur tracks of Obernkirchen are a geotope on the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen in Lower Saxony .
description
The approximately 2700 footprints of different types of dinosaurs are located in one of the Obernkirchen sandstone quarries. They were discovered in 2007 and 2008 and exposed by paleontologists from the Lower Saxony State Museum in Hanover . The traces were found within the 6 to 9 meter thick Obernkirchen sandstone , which lies under younger surface layers here.
The traces are attributed to the Berriasian (Lower Cretaceous , around 145.5 to 140.2 million years ago) and lie in two horizons . In the lower horizon there are mainly traces of smaller theropods , which are often referred to in the media as " raptors ". In the upper horizon, traces of animals from different ages that resemble Iguanodontipus and cf. Caririchnium dominate . The good preservation of the traces is based on the fact that they were covered by storm sands.
meaning
The dinosaur tracks in Obernkirchen are unique in Europe because of the large number of step seals from different predatory dinosaurs. According to the Lower Saxony State Museum in Hanover, the tracking areas are extremely important in the global scientific context. The tracks show that the animals made their way as part of the family. The tracks also reveal that the animals within their groups had visual contact with one another, which proves the social behavior of dinosaurs.
presentation
The upper horizon is open to the public. In 2010, walkways and platforms were set up for visitors . They are part of a four-kilometer information and educational trail that provides information on dinosaurs, coal mining on the Bückeberg and the Obernkirchen sandstone.
In 2011 the finds were presented to international experts. For this purpose, the Schaumburg landscape in Obernkirchen organized a symposium with the title "Dinosaur tracks in Lower Saxony" with the participation of scientists from the USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Yemen, Peru, Argentina and several European countries.
Imprint
Imprint
Two prints
See also
- History of the discovery of the dinosaurs: footprints from Germany
- Dinosaur tracks Münchehagen
- Christine Abitz: On the paleontological excavation on the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen. Excavations in autumn 2019 in: FAN-POST 2020 of the Friends of Archeology in Lower Saxony , pp. 44–45 ( online )
Web links
- Annette Richter, Uwe Stratmann: Dinosaur tracks in the Obernkirchen sandstone Description of the geotope by the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (pdf)
- There were raptors in Lower Saxony too. Scientists discover dinosaur tracks that are unique in the world. at scinexx .de
- Dinosaur tracks in the Obernkirchen sandstone quarries. Lively traces from the Lower Cretaceous. Brief tourist description and location
Individual evidence
- ↑ Obernkirchen sandstone quarries on the Bückeberg. Natural stone and fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Period. (303 kB; accessed April 30, 2017)
- ↑ The educational trail around the dinosaur tracks opened in the Schaumburger Zeitung on November 8, 2010
- ^ Sophie Hilgenstock: The world's most important dinosaur researchers meet in Lower Saxony in the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung on April 4, 2011
- ↑ Dinosaur Track Symposium 2011. The program (Engl.)
Coordinates: 52 ° 15 ′ 52 ″ N , 9 ° 12 ′ 23 ″ E