URGENT UPDATE: A stunning discovery of thousands of dinosaur footprints has been made just steps away from venues for the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy. The footprints, estimated to date back 210 million years to the Triassic period, were uncovered in Stelvio National Park, specifically in the Fraele Valley between Livigno and Bormio.
According to the Milan Natural History Museum (MNHM), this find is one of the most significant deposits of Triassic trace fossils globally. The footprints were located on nearly vertical dolomite walls, with some stretches revealing over 20,000 individual prints across an area of approximately three miles. These tracks provide crucial insights into the behavior of long-necked, bipedal herbivores, some reaching lengths of 33 feet and weighing up to four tons.
The discovery was made by paleontologist Dal Sasso, who noted that the tracks are remarkably well-preserved despite their high-altitude location. “The huge surprise was not so much in discovering the footprints, but in discovering such a huge quantity—tens of thousands of prints up there,” he stated. This astonishing find highlights the rhythmic, calm pace at which these ancient creatures moved, indicating they did not run but walked steadily across tidal flats at the end of the Triassic.
The Milan Cortina 2026 Games are set to take place from February 6 to 22, and the footprints were found about a mile away from the men’s alpine skiing venue. The MNHM emphasized that this site is remote and largely inaccessible, requiring drones and advanced remote sensing technologies for further study.
Attilio Fontana, the Lombardy regional governor, praised the discovery as the “gift of the Olympics” and expressed plans to make the area accessible to the public in the future. “It is the largest site in the Alps and one of the richest in the world,” said MNHM. “Never before reported or studied, it will engage geologists and paleontologists for decades.”
This discovery not only enriches our understanding of prehistoric life but also adds a fascinating layer to the upcoming Olympic Games, providing a unique intersection of sport and science. As the world gears up for the 2026 Winter Olympics, this remarkable find invites both athletes and spectators to marvel at the ancient history that lies beneath their feet.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and watch for future discoveries that could emerge from this extraordinary site.
