BEIJING (AFP)-Archaeologists in China have uncovered more than 3 000 dinosaur footprints, state media reported, in an area said to be the world's largest grouping of fossilised bones belonging to the ancient animals. The footprints, believed to be more than 100 million years old, were discovered after a three-month excavation (发掘, 出土) at a gully in Zhucheng in the eastern province of Shandong, the Xinhua news agency reported. The footprints range from lo to 80 centimetres (4 to 32 inches) in length, and belonged to at least six different kinds of dinosaurs, including tyrannosaurs, the report said Saturday. Wang Haijun, a senior engineer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the footprints faced the same direct.ion, Xinhua said. This indicated a possible migration or a panic escape by plant-eating dinosaurs after an attack by predators (食肉动物), Wang added. Archaeologists have found dinosaur fossils at some 30 sites in Zhucheng, known as "dinosaur city". The region has seen two major digs since 1964, and experts say the discovery of so many dinosaurs in such a dense area could provide clues on how the animals became extinct millions of years ago. Plans are being made to set up a fossil park in the area. |