Dinosaur Footprints - Westfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 07.323 W 072° 47.115
18T E 683074 N 4665701
Dinosaur footprints can be seen in Stanley Park in Westfield.
Waymark Code: WMC1YD
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 07/16/2011
Views: 4
About 200 million years ago, during the late Triassic and early Jurassic Periods, dinosaurs roamed what is now the Connecticut River Valley. When dinosaurs crossed mudflats they left behind footprint impressions, some of which dried, hardened, were covered with sediment and preserved.
On occasion, quarrying operations ot road construction reveals well preserved tracks of these long extinct creatures. Once you know what to look for, a three toed impression with the middle toe larger than the other two, they are easily spotted. The footprints are similar to those of huge birds. In fact, the prevailing scientific theory is that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
In Stanley Park there is a display of these dinosaur footprints. A permanent rectangular 3' x 12' enclosure is protected by a roof and contains a section of rock with numerous dinosaur tracks. The tracks were donated by the Carlton S. Nash quarry in South Hadley, MA
Surface of petrosomatoglyph: Rock
Impression of petrosomatoglyph: Natural
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Visit Instructions:
- Take pictures of the petrosomatoglyph.
- Tell about your visit at site.