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(https://x.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-sun.com%2Ftech%2F16991950%2Fscientists-first-t-rex-footprints&text=Scientists%20uncover%20first%20known%20T-Rex%20footprints%20from%2066.5million%20years%20ago) Share on X (Opens in new window) X   (https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-sun.com%2Ftech%2F16991950%2Fscientists-first-t-rex-footprints&t=Scientists%20uncover%20first%20known%20T-Rex%20footprints%20from%2066.5million%20years%20ago) Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook     (16991950.html#thesun-openweb-comments-container)   Comment now    SCIENTISTS have unearthed the world’s first known set of T-Rex footprints dating back over 66 million years. Four giant three-toed prints left by the terrifying adult dinosaur were discovered by a team of scientists in North Dakota after a schoolteacher stumbled upon the prehistoric tracks.  (16991950.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.) (NINTCHDBPICT001107577892)  4     The first-ever adult T. rex trackway discovered by scientists Credit: Denver Museum of Nature and Science   (16991950.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.) (NINTCHDBPICT001107577082)  4     The primeval imprints are preserved as sandstone fossils Credit: National Science Foundation   Advertisement   The prints, which measure around 3.3ft long per footstep and go on for 23ft, are believed to date back 66.5 million years ago. They were identified in the dinosaur fossil area known as Hells Creek Formation last year by researchers from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado and Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. Sign up for The US Sun newsletter   Thank you!    (thesuncom) (e45cf58d79)  (/tech/16991950/)  (news) () Email address      Please provide a valid email.    (Sign up)   Your info will be used in accordance with our (https://newsprivacy.co.uk/) Privacy Policy   You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email.   (1)    The unprecedented findings have just recently been published.  While single footprints and juvenile tracks have been found before, this marks the very first time a continuous trail left by a wandering T rex has been uncovered. read more   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/12147579/scissor-toothed-dino-shark-ruled-sea/)   KILLING MACHINE  How dino-shark with ‘snout of doom’ ruled the sea 350MILLION years ago     (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/10573410/rare-killer-asteroids-sci-fi-mission-scientist-warning/)   ROCK STAR Rare killer asteroids could be stopped with sci-fi style mission, scientists say        (16991950.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.) (NINTCHDBPICT001107577083)  4     The prints are around 3.3 ft long Credit: Denver Museum of Nature and Science   (16991950.html#) (Open a slideshow of all 4 article images.) (NINTCHDBPICT001107577081)  4     It is a worlds-first discovery Credit: National Science Foundation   Colorado schoolteacher, Kent Hups, was left in shock when he first stumbled upon the fossilised footprints. Kent – who co-authored the paper – said: “As a teacher, I’m always telling my students that science starts with curiosity, passion and careful observation. Advertisement   “I never imagined that could lead me to a discovery like this.” The primeval imprints are preserved as fossils – formed when sandstone hardened into solid rock around the depressions. Most read in Tech  (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/12147579/scissor-toothed-dino-shark-ruled-sea/) ()     KILLING MACHINE  How dino-shark with ‘snout of doom’ ruled the sea 350MILLION years ago     (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16984768/iphone-duo-hands-on-foldable-tested/) ()     GOLDEN FOLDIE I was one of first to try bendy $1,999 iPhone Duo – 5 features left me amazed     (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/5062469/science-of-falling-expert-reveals-shocking-impact/) ()   SUDDEN IMPACT Deadly science of falling – experts reveal shocking impact on human body     (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16980499/scientist-massive-ancient-tooth-beast/) (An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows NINTCHDBPICT001107063165, Image 2 shows NINTCHDBPICT001107063159, Image 3 shows NINTCHDBPICT001107063280)   MEGA TOOTH Scientist accidentally discovers massive ancient tooth from 2.5million years ago        Three of the discovered footprints are set to be recovered by helicopter later this year and transported to the museum in Denver.  Tyler Lyson, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science said: “With a trackway, we can actually follow an animal as it moved across the landscape.  “That is incredibly rare for T rex. Advertisement   “Bones tell us an enormous amount about these animals, but footprints capture a moment of behaviour.” The team also found  T rex skeletal elements and skeletons in the local area, further reinforcement their belief that the tracks were made by a T rex.  The T rex, the most famous of all dinosaurs, lived about 66-68 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, according to the known fossil record.  It towered at 12-13ft tall, and was among the last non-flying dinosaurs to walk the Earth before a mass extinction event wiped them out. It comes as scientists make another significant find- a (16991950.html) chunk of fossilised dinosaur poo.  Advertisement   A feather of a bird eaten by the prehistoric beast 66 million years ago has recently been found to have survived within its solidified excrement. The remains of the age-old dung are a look back in time to a feathery meal enjoyed by a  dinosaur and could tell us why birds survived the asteroid strike that wiped out dinosaurs.  RECOMMENDED STORIES        The  (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/15986970/prehistoric-reptile-bum-hole-fossil/) fossilised  faeces, known as coprolite, is believed to have belonged to a medium-sized dinosaur, such as a young T rex that lived on the land that is now the US state of Montana.  Jingmai O’Connor, the lead author of the newly published findings, explained: “It’s such a beautiful, well-preserved feather, from such an unexpected source, and it’s exciting that it could help us answer this huge question in paleontology.” (16991950.html#thesun-openweb-comments-container)   Comment now       Topics (https://www.the-sun.com/topic/dinosaurs/) Dinosaurs   (https://www.the-sun.com/where/north-dakota/) North Dakota   (https://www.the-sun.com/where/united-states/) United States            YOU MIGHT LIKE             YOU MIGHT LIKE                                       RECOMMENDED FOR YOU              MORE FOR YOU              MORE FROM THE SUN (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991950/scientists-first-t-rex-footprints/) ()        (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991950/scientists-first-t-rex-footprints/)    DINO DISCOVERY Scientists uncover first known T-Rex footprints from 66.5million years ago  FOUR giant three-toed prints left by the terrifying adult dinosaur were discovered by a team of scientists in North Dakota.   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/) Tech    (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991950/scientists-first-t-rex-footprints#thesun-openweb-comments-container)         (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991950/scientists-first-t-rex-footprints/)   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991243/gamestop-locations-reopening-reversal/) ()        (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991243/gamestop-locations-reopening-reversal/)    game start GameStop confirms sudden closure U-turn and reopens stores starting today  THE brand did not say how many stores would be reopened   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/) Tech    (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991243/gamestop-locations-reopening-reversal#thesun-openweb-comments-container)         (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16991243/gamestop-locations-reopening-reversal/)   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16984768/iphone-duo-hands-on-foldable-tested/) ()        (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16984768/iphone-duo-hands-on-foldable-tested/)    GOLDEN FOLDIE I was one of first to try bendy $1,999 iPhone Duo – 5 features left me amazed  NORMALLY if your phone was bending, it’d mean a trip to the repair shop and an eye-watering bill. But Apple’s new iPhone Duo – which I’ve already had a play with out in California – is meant to bend.   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/) Tech    (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16984768/iphone-duo-hands-on-foldable-tested#thesun-openweb-comments-container)         (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16984768/iphone-duo-hands-on-foldable-tested/)   (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16980499/scientist-massive-ancient-tooth-beast/) ()      (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16980499/scientist-massive-ancient-tooth-beast/) MEGA TOOTH Scientist accidentally discovers massive ancient tooth from 2.5million years ago    (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/) Tech    (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16980499/scientist-massive-ancient-tooth-beast#thesun-openweb-comments-container)         (https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16980499/scientist-massive-ancient-tooth-beast/)                 (NINTCHDBPICT001107577892)   The first-ever adult T. rex trackway discovered by scientists Credit: Denver Museum of Nature and Science   (NINTCHDBPICT001107577082)   The primeval imprints are preserved as sandstone fossils Credit: National Science Foundation   (NINTCHDBPICT001107577083)   The prints are around 3.3 ft long Credit: Denver Museum of Nature and Science   (NINTCHDBPICT001107577081)   It is a worlds-first discovery Credit: National Science Foundation     You are viewing 1 of 4  images  Previous Image      Next Image                               Follow The Sun (https://www.facebook.com/thesunus/)   (https://twitter.com/thesunus)   (https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5vBGdHwXbD3YFFqG3m)     Services (https://www.the-sun.com/sign-up-to-the-sun/) Sign Up To The Sun  (https://www.the-sun.com/about-us/) About Us  (https://www.the-sun.com/sun-editorial-standards-policies-ethics/) Editorial Standards, Policies and Ethics  (https://www.the-sun.com/editorial-complaints/) Editorial Complaints  (https://www.the-sun.com/clarifications/) Clarifications  (https://www.the-sun.com/syndication/) News Licensing  (http://www.newsukadvertising.co.uk) Advertising  (https://www.the-sun.com/contact-us/) Contact Us  (https://help.thesun.co.uk/) Help Hub  (https://www.the-sun.com/index/) Topic A-Z  (16991950.html#) Cookie Settings  (https://mypreferences.thesun.co.uk/) Contact Preferences  (https://jobs.the-sun.com/?source=footer&utm_source=footer&utm_medium=partner_referral) Sun Jobs  (https://www.the-sun.com/shopping/) Shopping  (https://www.the-sun.com/news/15089900/the-sun-exclusive-content-google-preferred-sources/) Follow The Sun in Google’s Top Stories     © NEWS ENTERPRISES, INC. 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