Dinosaurs In Sardinia? The Prehistoric Footprints Discovered In Baunei 0 Commentaires

Sardinia, a land rich in archaeological and natural treasures, never ceases to amaze. A remarkable discovery has recently enriched the Italian paleontological landscape: for the first time, fossil dinosaur footprints have been found on the island, precisely in the countryside of Baunei, in the Ogliastra region, about two and a half hours by car (165 km) from the Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites.

These footprints date back approximately 165 million years, to the Middle Jurassic, and represent a historic turning point in understanding Sardinia’s prehistory. The well-preserved tracks belong to a theropod dinosaur, a bipedal predator that moved along sandy and muddy coastal areas, typical of marshlands subject to tides. According to palaeontologist Marco Zedda of the University of Sassari, the animal was a biped measuring between 120 and 160 cm long and was probably herbivorous, as the footprints show no distinct claw marks.

The discovery happened by chance during the filming of a documentary about Sardinia’s geomorphological landscape. A scientific team made up of professors Antonio Assorgia, Sergio Ginesu, and Stefania Sias, former faculty members at the Universities of Sassari and Cagliari, noticed the fossil tracks engraved on Jurassic rocks. It was palaeontologist Stefania Sias who first spotted the prints and affectionately nicknamed the mysterious dinosaur “Bibi,” hypothesizing it might have been a female.

Until now, Sardinia was believed to lack direct evidence of dinosaur presence. This discovery radically changes that perspective, suggesting that during the Middle Jurassic, the island hosted a variety of prehistoric species previously unknown.

In my previous article, “Geologically Sardinia”, I had already recounted the island’s origins in the Palaeozoic era. Today, I enthusiastically pick up the thread of that story to welcome the first direct evidence of dinosaurs in Sardinia.

The details were presented at a press conference in Sassari, attended by the researchers, Baunei’s mayor Stefano Monni, and palaeontologist Marco Zedda. The news generated great interest within the scientific community and among palaeontology enthusiasts, reaffirming Sardinia’s importance as a land of unique discoveries and encouraging further research campaigns.

The discovery could significantly boost cultural and scientific tourism in the region, attracting curious travellers and scholars from around the world, eager to explore the island’s prehistoric past. A different kind of tourism, conscious and inspired by the wonder of science.

Some sceptical voices have emerged online, but at present, there is no evidence challenging the authenticity of the footprints. No reputable publication or member of the scientific community has raised credible doubts. The sources are reliable, and the researchers involved are known for the rigor of their work.

It will be interesting to see whether “Bibi” will also find a symbolic home in the evocative Dinosaur Park of Sardegna in Miniatura, located in Riu Lardi, near Barumini, in the heart of the Marmilla region.
The park, part of an educational and natural complex that includes a planetarium, an astronomy museum, and a reconstructed Nuragic village, already features a rich display of scaled-down dinosaurs. Hosting a section dedicated to the Baunei discovery would make the journey through science, nature, and imagination even more fascinating. A bridge between outreach and research, where young visitors (and grown-ups!) can dream, starting from a real scientific fact.

Welcome “Bibi” to the history of Sardinia and to our blog, always updated on the peculiar wonders of this extraordinary island.

“What we have left today (of dinosaurs) are fossils in the rocks. And it is from the rocks that true scientists will reach true discoveries.” (cit.)

Written by Daniela Toti