A 25-kilometer stretch of coastline on Western Australia’s Dampier Peninsula has been identified as a significant dinosaur track site. Research on the Walmadany (James Price Point) area documented dinosaur tracks preserved in 130-million-year-old Broome Sandstone.
Key Discoveries
- Largest Footprints: Giant sauropod footprints up to 1.75 meters long were recorded, considered the largest dinosaur footprints ever documented. Researchers named this track type Oobardjidama foulkesi, with an estimated hip height of 5.5–5.7 meters and a body length likely exceeding 30 meters. This suggests gigantic dinosaur lineages may have persisted longer in ancient Australian landscapes.
- Highest Track Diversity: Scientists documented 21 distinct dinosaur track types, making it the most diverse dinosaur footprint site globally. The track record includes sauropods, theropods, ornithopods, and armored dinosaurs, including stegosaurs. This ecosystem has been termed the "Cretaceous Serengeti."
- Active Shoreline Environment: The Walmadany tracks are part of an active shoreline and are revealed and covered by tides, shifting sands, and storms.
Indigenous Knowledge and Conservation
The Goolarabooloo people recognize these tracks as part of a living cultural landscape, woven into a coastal Song Cycle connected to the journey of Marala (the Emu Man) from Bugarrigarri (Dreamtime) tradition. Three-toed theropod tracks, scientifically known as Megalosauropus broomensis, are identified in Goolarabooloo tradition as Marala’s footprints, representing a convergence of cultural knowledge and scientific classification.
The Walmadany coastline was previously proposed for a $40 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing precinct. A coalition of Traditional Owners, community members, environmental groups, and scientists contributed to halting this project by demonstrating the site's global significance through detailed documentation and cultural testimony. The West Kimberley region, including this dinosaur coast, was subsequently added to Australia’s National Heritage List, and the project was abandoned in April 2013.
Documentation Methods
Due to the challenging field conditions, which include tides up to 10 meters and variable track visibility, researchers utilized several techniques to preserve the site digitally:
- Drone photogrammetry for high-resolution 3D models.
- LiDAR scanning to capture subtle track details.
- Silicon casting for select footprints.
This digital archiving is crucial for preserving the site as coastal erosion is ongoing.
This site is significant for its combination of scientific discovery, living Indigenous heritage, and a successful conservation effort against industrial development.