Ardley Trackways

Ardley Trackways
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationOxfordshire
Grid referenceSP 541 250[1]
InterestGeological
Area63.6 hectares (157 acres)[1]
Notification2010[1]
Location mapMagic Map

Ardley Trackways is a 63.6-hectare (157-acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Bicester in Oxfordshire.[1][2] It is a Geological Conservation Review site.[3]

This site is internationally important because it has trackways created by a herd of sauropod (herbivorous) dinosaurs, together with several carnivorous theropods, along a shoreline dating to the Middle Jurassic, around 165 million years ago. These are the only such trackways in England, and one of the few dating to the Middle Jurassic in the world. The tracks throw light on the behaviour and gait of the dinosaurs.[4]

The site is private land with no public access.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Designated Sites View: Ardley Trackways". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Map of Ardley Trackways". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Ardley Trackways (Jurassic - Cretaceous Reptilia)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 26 February 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Ardley Trackways citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
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51°55′16″N 1°12′54″W / 51.921°N 1.215°W / 51.921; -1.215