Published 04:26 IST, November 15th 2019
'Ghost' footprints from the last ice age could help track movement of dinosaurs
Researchers with the help of a new radar method discovered footprints from the last ice age. The technique can be used to investigate the movement of dinosaurs.
Researchers from Cornell University, with the help of a special type of radar, recently discovered footprints that were hidden since the last ice age and what lied underneath them. The fossilised footprints revealed a great deal of information in relation to how human beings and animals co-existed around 12,000 years ago.
'Ghost' footprints
The researchers said that they initially never thought of looking under the fossilised footprints but it turned out that the fossil had recorded the effect of the animal's weight and momentum. The researchers also added that the study gave them the chance of studying the biomechanics of animals that went extinct millions of years ago.
According to reports, the researchers had analysed the footprints of human beings, mammoths, and sloths at the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Using GPR (Ground-penetrating radar), the team was able to analyse approximately 96% of the human footprints alongside all the big animal footprints.
However, the researchers feel that there are bigger implications than just the case study.
The study's lead researcher, Thomas Urban, stated that the GPR technique could be used to analyse other fossilised footprints found in different parts of the world, potentially including those of dinosaurs. Thomas further added that they had successfully tested the technique at multiple locations within the White Sands National Monument.
Sturt Manning, a co-researcher, said that these 'invisible' footprints can remain hidden for a short period of time after rain and with the conditions right, the footprints can be recorded, tracked and analyzed in 3D to reveal the identity of the Pleistocene animal and human interaction alongside the history in unique ways.
What is GPR?
The GPR is a method that does not destroy the fossils and gives an opportunity to the researchers to gain access to information without the need of an archeological excavation. The sensor, which is like an antenna, is dragged over the marked surface simultaneously sending radio waves into the ground and the signal then bounces back to give a pictorial representation of what exactly is underneath the surface.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 06:09 IST, November 15th 2019