<p>The dinosaur footprints in Plagne are circular depressions surrounded by a fold of limestone sediment. These depressions are very large, up to 1.50 metre in total diameter, suggesting that the animals were larger than 40 tonnes and 25 metres in length. <br />Discovered by Marie-Hélène Marcaud and Patrice Landry, the dinosaur footprints have been authenticated by Jean-Michel Mazin and Pierre Hantzpergue, both of the Paléoenvironnements et Paléobiosphères laboratory (CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1).<br />According to the researchers' initial analyses, these dinosaur footprints are the largest found to date. Furthermore, the tracks spread over dozens and possibly even hundreds of metres. <br />More significant digs will be conducted over the next few years and could result in the Plagne site being one of the largest known dinosaur sites on earth.<br />Marcaud, Patrice Landry and other members of the Société des naturalistes d'Oyonnax (SDNO) have been searching for dinosaur footprints for years. <br />Convinced that the region had a rich paleontological heritage, they focused on potential sites and have been exploring them systematically. The SDNO is thus responsible for a number of discoveries.<br />It was during one of these outings, on April 5, 2009, that Marcaud and Landry discovered the extraordinary footprints at Plagne, says a CNRS release. <br />They contacted Jean-Michel Mazin and Pierre Hantzpergue, of CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. Researchers authenticated the footprints based on morphological criteria and the sediment containing them. They believe that the Plagne site was along a route used by sauropod dinosaurs.<br /></p>
<p>The dinosaur footprints in Plagne are circular depressions surrounded by a fold of limestone sediment. These depressions are very large, up to 1.50 metre in total diameter, suggesting that the animals were larger than 40 tonnes and 25 metres in length. <br />Discovered by Marie-Hélène Marcaud and Patrice Landry, the dinosaur footprints have been authenticated by Jean-Michel Mazin and Pierre Hantzpergue, both of the Paléoenvironnements et Paléobiosphères laboratory (CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1).<br />According to the researchers' initial analyses, these dinosaur footprints are the largest found to date. Furthermore, the tracks spread over dozens and possibly even hundreds of metres. <br />More significant digs will be conducted over the next few years and could result in the Plagne site being one of the largest known dinosaur sites on earth.<br />Marcaud, Patrice Landry and other members of the Société des naturalistes d'Oyonnax (SDNO) have been searching for dinosaur footprints for years. <br />Convinced that the region had a rich paleontological heritage, they focused on potential sites and have been exploring them systematically. The SDNO is thus responsible for a number of discoveries.<br />It was during one of these outings, on April 5, 2009, that Marcaud and Landry discovered the extraordinary footprints at Plagne, says a CNRS release. <br />They contacted Jean-Michel Mazin and Pierre Hantzpergue, of CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. Researchers authenticated the footprints based on morphological criteria and the sediment containing them. They believe that the Plagne site was along a route used by sauropod dinosaurs.<br /></p>