Dinosaur Provincial Park, located in Alberta, Canada, is home to one of the world’s richest dinosaur fossils beds. It is well known for having extremely deep, rich, studied collections of Mesozoic dinosaur fossils. Recent excavations conducted by an international team of experts have led to an extraordinary discovery: the first evidence of mixed-species herding behavior among dinosaurs. This unprecedented discovery uncovers trails featuring species of all sizes traveling communally. It paints a profound and sympathetic new picture of the social lives of these long-extinct animals.
In July 2024, the excavation crew discovered an incredible 29 square meters of fossilized tracks at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Researchers have thoroughly explored and gathered data in this field for more than 100 years. As a result of their incredible work we’ve gained life-changing insights into dinosaur life. Here’s Dr. Brian Pickles, palaeobiology graduate from the University of Reading, expressing his excitement upon realizing that he found the discovery. More than 76 million years after they were made, he said, it’s “incredibly exciting to be walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs.”
The Excavation and Findings
The excavation team, led by Dr. Brian Pickles, Dr. Phil Bell from the University of New England in Australia, and Dr. Caleb Brown from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Canada, focused on identifying and documenting the tracks left by these ancient animals. They discovered 13 ceratopsian tracks from at least five individual horned dinosaurs walking side by side, indicating a possible social structure.
The team found tracks from a likely ankylosaurid in addition to the ceratopsians. This heavily armoured dinosaur may have shared the same badlands landscape with these ceratopsians. This discovery of multiple dinosaur species interacting suggests that these animals may have engaged in herding behavior, a strategy that may have provided protection against predators.
For almost 20 years, Dr. Phil Bell has been gathering dinosaur bones in Dinosaur Provincial Park. In his remarks, he stressed the importance of this incredible find. It proves the amazing complexity of dinosaur social interactions. Beyond conserving fossil history, though, it paves the way for novel paleontological research.
Implications for Paleontological Research
The finding at Dinosaur Provincial Park is remarkable for a number of reasons. This finding provides the first direct evidence for mixed-species herding behavior among dinosaurs. It implies that these animals were doing teamwork to keep themselves alive. Two enormous tyrannosaurus footprints stride side by side, placed at right angles to the rest of the herd. This accumulating evidence makes a compelling case that the multispecies grouping was likely an effective anti-predatory defense strategy against ubiquitous apex macrophages.
According to Dr. Caleb Brown, this finding reveals just how much is still left to discover in dinosaur paleontology. Each of the tracks is a treasure trove of useful information. So, they might aid us in gaining insight into the social behavior and dynamics of these long extinct creatures. This research deepens our understanding, while raising further questions regarding their interactions and adaptations to the changing environment.
A Testament to Ongoing Discoveries
Dinosaur Provincial Park is known for providing the best overall understanding of global dinosaur assemblages. This reputation was only cemented by its stellar long history of exploration and scientific research. Today’s discoveries are a reminder that ongoing discoveries continue to be made at this special site. An interdisciplinary team of researchers is currently excavating, preserving and studying the area. They hope to find additional evidence that will transform our understanding of dinosaur behavior and ecology.