Stegosaurus Footprints About 150 Million Years Old Found In South Korea's Geoje

Stogosaur footprints on Geoje Island, Gyeongsang Province. (Source: Geoje City Government)

JAKARTA - Footprints left by a stegosaurus about 150 million years ago were found by researchers on Geoje Island, southeast of South Korea last month, according to local officials.

The research team led by Kim Kyung-soo, professor at the Center for geological heritage research at the Chinju National Education University, found the footprints in Chegolong-ri, the first evidence showing the dinosaur species had been in Korea, reported by The Korea Times, October 31.

Stegosaurs are known for kite-shaped slabs that cross their backs. The length can reach 7 meters and weigh more than 3 tons.

In a city-funded project to study fossil sites in the northwestern region of the island, the research team also found footprints of hadrosaurs and other species, as well as 11 traces of dinosaur skin fossils.

The research project was proposed after dinosaur footprints allegedly discovered by travel agency owners in 2019. The project is expected to be officially closed next month with a final report.

Last year, herbivore dinosaur egg fossils were found in the Sinan region, southwest of South Korea.

The site is only 100 meters from the site where fossil carnivorous dinosaur nests were discovered in 2009.