The famed Arkansaurus isn’t the only dinosaur to have crossed the Natural State millions of years ago. In 2011, a gypsum miners uncovered a rare find – perfectly preserved dino tracks. Let’s learn more about this interesting discovery.

This otherworldly spot in Arkansas was once the passing grounds for dinosaurs.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
Currently, it's an active gypsum mine outside of Nashville, AR.
In 2011, miners discovered strange tracks in the quarry.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
Scientists from the U of A were able to determine that the tracks belonged to Acrocanthosaurus, a carnivore as big as T-Rex.
The footprints were made 120 million years ago in what had been a muddy bog.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
The muddy prints were preserved in limestone and hidden under the hilly forests for millions of years. Mining exposed the prints and lead to some interesting discoveries.

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Since this was an active mine, scientists had little time to preserve the prints.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
Fortunately, modern technology helped the excavation go quickly. Scientists used LiDAR, a laser-imaging device, to digitally preserve the prints. You can see this digital imaging of the prints right here.
The discoveries didn't stop after the initial excavation.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
Earlier this year, news was released about the details of the findings. The prints were actually from multiple dinosaurs. Acrocanthosaurus parents and their young crossed through this area as well as long-necked sauropods. These tracks also altered the previous map of the dinosaurs' territory by 56 miles.
The life of the Acrocanthosaurus can now be more clearly illustrated because of the findings in Nashville.
Wikipedia
Scientists can better map the dinosaur's migration pattern as well as determine its expansive habitat. According to Celina Suarez, an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences, "It actually confirms that the main genus of large theropods in North America was Acrocanthosaurus." Evidence of the dinosaur have been documented in Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, Maryland, and now Arkansas.
Although the prints are just an echo of an ancient past, it's still fascinating to know that dinosaurs once roamed Arkansas.
YouTube/Dino Trackers!
For more information on the latest news of this excavation, read the U of A article right here.

Learn more about the site and the life of the Acrocanthosaurus with this video:

Did you know about the Acrocanthosaurus in Arkansas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Here are other places around the state where you can spot a dinosaur.

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