200 million-year-old dinosaur footprints stolen from clifftop rock face

Dinosaur footprints have been stolen from a clifftop in South Wales. A local archaeology and geology group believe cutting equipment was used to remove the 200 million-year-old dinosaur and reptile footprints from the site between Barry and Sully, in the Vale of Glamorgan. 

The site from which dinosaur footprints were stolen [Credit: Wales Online]

The theft at Bendrick Rock was discovered by archaeologist Karl-James Langford. The footprints are thought to have belonged to an as yet unidentified three-toed dinosaur. 

He said: "We were horrified that in an area where we had examined several footprints previous, on an occasion to formally record them, they had been taken. 

"Cutting instruments have been used on the 200 million Triassic rock. 

"This is in an area where footprints and the fossilised remains of wave ridges had existed a few weeks back. 

A dinosaur footprint on the beach at nearby Sully [Credit: Wales Online]

"This part of the coastline is protected as an SSSI, and as such is meant to offer the protection and restriction from anyone removing any of the rare geological formations, whether they are footprints, fossils or even any of the rock. 

"There are only 12 sites of special scientific interest in Wales, and it is a shame that nobody seems to be offering a scheme to protect such a wonderful resource." 

Source: Wales Online [August 22, 2012]