In a groundbreaking milestone for northeastern Thailand, paleontology officials have confirmed the first discovery of fossilized dinosaur tracks in Udon Thani province. Found by Pichai Prathetsena at Phu Phra Bat in the Ban Phue district, the site prompted an investigation by environmental, geological, and cultural authorities.
The Discovery
The confirmation was announced by the Department of Mineral Resources following an inspection ordered by Nipon Chamnongsirisak, the deputy permanent secretary of natural resources and environment and acting director-general of the department. Experts from the fossil protection division and regional office joined forces with representatives from the Fine Arts Department and Phu Hin Chom That-Phu Phra Bat National Park to evaluate the location.
What Scientists Found
Investigators identified a trackway containing six distinct footprints left in sandstone belonging to the Phu Phan formation. The prints date back to the Early Cretaceous period, roughly 120 million years ago, and were made by a theropod—a group of two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs.
- Footprint dimensions: Each print displays three pointed toes, measuring approximately 29 centimeters in length and 26 centimeters in width.
- Dinosaur dimensions: Based on the track size, experts estimate the animal stood around 1.42 meters tall at the hip and had an overall body length of about 6.3 meters.
- Species comparison: The creature's estimated size is comparable to Siamotyrannus isanensis, an extinct theropod previously discovered in Thailand from the same geological period.
Why It Matters
As the first discovery of its kind in Udon Thani, the site holds significant scientific value. To prevent damage from human visitors and water erosion, the Department of Mineral Resources has recommended that partnering agencies establish a legal protected zone around the tracks under Section 25 of the Fossil Protection Act 2008. Future plans aim to develop the location into a major national hub for geological research, scientific study, and tourism.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 20, 2026 · Photo by Intricate Explorer on Unsplash