Possible dinosaur footprints discovered near a stream in a forest in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, Thailand, have attracted attention online, with the Department of Mineral Resources confirming that it is checking the findings with experts.
The unusual impressions were shared on social media, prompting discussions about whether they could be fossilised tracks left by dinosaurs millions of years ago. Some commenters suggested that the marks resembled dinosaur footprints previously discovered at other locations in Thailand.
Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources acknowledged the report and said it was gathering information from specialists. The discovery has not yet been officially confirmed as a new dinosaur track site.
Experts Suggest the Marks Could Belong to a Theropod
Several social media users familiar with dinosaur fossils suggested that the impressions could belong to a theropod, a group of dinosaurs that generally walked on two hind legs and included carnivorous species.
One commenter proposed that the tracks might have been made by a dinosaur related to carcharodontosaurs or spinosaurs, while another suggested they could belong to Siamotyrannus or an unidentified theropod.
However, the specific dinosaur responsible cannot be determined from the impressions alone. Further examination of the footprints, their dimensions and the surrounding geological layers would be needed before experts could establish their origin.
Commenters also drew comparisons with the dinosaur footprints at Phu Faek Forest Park in Kalasin Province, a recognised fossil track site discovered in 1996 by two young girls.
How Dinosaur Footprints Can Survive for Millions of Years
The Department of Mineral Resources also explained the geological process that allows animal footprints to become preserved as trace fossils.
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs could have walked across soft sediment near rivers, streams or other bodies of water, leaving impressions in the ground. If the sediment dried and hardened before another layer of material gently covered it, the tracks could be protected from erosion and disturbance.
Over time, additional layers of sediment accumulated and gradually hardened into rock, preserving the original impressions. Under suitable geological conditions, these marks can survive for millions of years.
Scientists study such tracks to learn more about prehistoric animals, including their size, movement and behaviour. Measurements of individual footprints and the distances between successive steps can help researchers estimate hip height and walking or running speed.
Discovery Could Lead to Further Geological Investigation
The reported findings have generated excitement among social media users, with some hoping the location could eventually be recognised as a new fossil site.
Others urged the person who discovered the marks to notify the relevant authorities so that specialists could examine them and determine whether they have scientific significance.
Udon Thani’s geological formations are also attracting attention in the discussion. One commenter pointed to the Phu Phan Formation, which dates to the Cretaceous Period, although the precise geological context of the reported footprints still requires verification.
For now, the key question remains whether the impressions are genuine dinosaur trace fossils and, if so, which group of dinosaurs made them. The Department of Mineral Resources’ assessment should help clarify the nature and significance of the discovery.
Until specialists complete their examination, the marks should be treated as possible dinosaur footprints rather than a confirmed new fossil discovery.