10 MOST FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT DR. JOHNSON’S
DINOSAUR TRACK
DISCOVERY

1. Was Dr. Johnson searching for something when he discovered the dinosaur track casts?

Dr. Johnson was leveling a parcel of his property for a commercial development for nearly a year when he came across a three-foot layer of bedrock that dates back to the Jurassic Period. He first discovered the casts in February 2000.

2. Did Dr. Johnson recognize the dinosaur tracks immediately after discovering them?

The tracks were found on the underside of the bedrock. Instead of an imprint, the track was in the form of a cast. At first sight Dr. Johnson thought that the dinosaur was imbedded in the rock and only it’s foot was exposed.

He then proceeded to turn over another slab of rock and noticed an imprint in the sand beneath the cast in the rock. The track casts turned out to be over two hundred million years old and were made by dinosaurs stepping in 8 inches of moist clay. The footprints left in the clay were eventually filled in with sand, which in time turned into the rock that we now see. When the stones are turned upside down we see the underside of a dinosaur’s footprint.

3. Are the footprints in the sand that was under the rock still there?

They are no longer there. As the clay crumbled from the rock when they were lifted the imprints in the sand quickly lost form and are no longer there.

4. How did he know his discovery was really dinosaur prints?

There are many dinosaur imprints in the area. For example there are tracks above Washington City an in Fort Pierce but these were indentations not casts. Dixie College Geology Professor, Kelly Bringhurst, told Dr. Johnson that he was reaching the Jurassic layer of rock as he was leveling some earth on his property and that he may want to keep his eyes peeled for dinosaur tracks. Dr. Johnson carefully turned over each rock and examined it before turning another.

5. What went through his mind when he found the first tracks?

He was very excited. He was unable to sleep that night as he thought of people to call to help with his new discovery. He wondered if any experts would be interested in inspecting and preserving the tracks.

6. Are there any dinosaur bones or skeletons in the rock?

No. The early Jurassic age was very quiet geologically. Not many bones or skeletal remains from that time period exist. The amount of earth covering the remains of dinosaurs was sufficient enough to preserve them.

7. Have any specialists inspected the dinosaur tracks yet?

Many geologists and several paleontologists have been by the site to help and advise. State of Utah Paleontologist James Kirkland has been at the site with a team of professional doing extensive research. Dr. Wade Miller from Brigham Young University has also looked at the site. Dr. Martin Lockley, the world’s foremost leader on dinosaur tracks Visited the site to make casts of the prints and plans to come back in June to resume digging with Dr. Krikham.

8. What kind of dinosaurs left their tracks?

There were at least two meat eating dinosaur prints identified at the site: The dilophosaurus, a large carnivore that walked on three toes. The ceolphisus, a small meat eater that also walked on three toes and possessed hollow bones like those found in birds. The light bones and muscular legs allowed this creature to run quickly and theory has it that they hunted in packs.

9. What are the all the intertwined lines in the rocks?

Geologists say that they are the cracks that were left in the clay after it dried up and hardened. These cracks were also filled in by sand and the remains are found on the same rocks with tracks on them.

10. What is the future of the dinosaur prints?

There have been many discussions about building a museum to house the rocks in the not to distant future. The main purpose of the museum would be strictly educational. There has also been some dialogue with regards to erecting a monument near the original site that will give visitors a better understanding of the dinosaurs that left the prints and their surroundings.