Dinosaur Footprints

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Leiria > Alcobaça > São Martinho do Porto > Venda Nova

Location

The Dinosaur Footprints are located in the area of Venda Nova, an integral part of the locality of São Martinho do Porto, in the municipality of Alcobaça. São Martinho do Porto is a coastal town, known for its distinctive shell-shaped bay. The Venda Nova area, although more urbanized, integrates into this environment, positioning the site of interest in a setting that combines residential tranquility with proximity to nature.

A Prehistoric Testimony

This site offers a rare glimpse into the distant past of our planet. The visible marks are fossilized footprints, left by herbivorous dinosaurs millions of years ago. These impressions, etched into the rocks over eons, serve as a fascinating record of the life that once walked these lands. They represent a valuable natural heritage, offering a tangible link to the prehistoric giants that inhabited the region.

Its Scientific Uniqueness

The importance of these footprints extends to the global scientific panorama. Among the discovered vestiges, impressions of the dinosaur Stegopodus stand out, a pioneering discovery in Portugal and the second of its kind recorded in Europe. At the same location, footprints of Deltapodus were also identified. The coexistence of these two types of large herbivore footprints on a single surface is a globally unique occurrence, lending the site exceptional scientific value and high interest for paleontology.

The Value of the Discovery

The discovery of these footprints proved to be a significant moment for national science. Their identification was the result of the work of young students who, under guidance, developed classification and analysis methods to confirm their origin and uniqueness. This remarkable contribution to paleontological knowledge underscores the relevance of the site and the richness of the natural heritage preserved by the Alcobaça and São Martinho do Porto region, inviting reflection on Earth's geological history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt