Jurassic Park More Like Jurassic Disco

In the Jurassic period most of the western United States was a Sahara type desert. Most scientists agree that large dinosaurs couldn’t survive in great numbers in this type of environment however, that was soon challenged.

Recently geologists form the University of Utah have found thousands of dinosaur foot prints. They are all clustered in an area of less than an acre. The density and sheer number of tracks makes the researchers refer to this as a dinosaur dance floor. This large concentration leads the scientist to believe that it was a desert oasis and that large numbers gathered here.

A graduate student who discovered the site describes the animals as "happy to be at this place, having wandered up and down many a sand dune, exhausted from the heat and the blowing sand, relieved and happy to come to a place where there was water." While this is slightly colorful description it would makes sense that a desert oasis would gather huge numbers of animals in a dry harsh environment.

Clearly this is an important discovery into dinosaur social behavior which given they have been extinct is very difficult. Also this will prove a site of large scale research.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_sc/sci_dinosaur_dance_floor;_ylt=AhjkjKLYIUehhp5Q7qV6KJ4PLBIF

Matthew Sousa(5)

update:

More recent report shows 40 cm wide upright carnivore tracks. This shows that there is more going on than a herd of animals gathering. Clearly there is a diverse group of animals present. However, there are a number of strange pothole like impressions found and may scientists disagree as to what they are. Also another mystery is why, if this was a gathering place and had carnivore are there no bones. Clearly there are some questions but more research should lead to more answers.