At first it was thought to be a joke
Woods is one of the authors of the research published yesterday in the journal Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society.
Woods contacted paleontologist Dr Dean Lomax, a visiting scientist at Macnhester University, to ask his opinion on what he had found in Burniston Bay, about 5 kilometers north of Scarborough. The day before, Lomax had shared photos of dinosaur footprints found in the same area in 2006.
“Marie called me when she was on the beach with the fossils in front of her,” said Lomax.
“At first, to be honest, I thought he was joking,” he said by email. “The fact that he was out for a walk and saw these footprints on the beach is pretty improbable. Plus Mari is an archaeologist and he once jokingly said he would one day make some amazing finds in paleontology.”
The three-toed footprint is one of six found in the area. The first was found in 1934.
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