Cal Orck’o, often referred to as Bolivia’s “dinosaur dance floor,” provides an incredible glimpse into the ancient world. This area showcases not only dinosaurs themselves but also the environmental changes that reshaped their habitat.
In the 1990s, when the Dinosaur Plateau in Turkmenistan was considered the largest dinosaur footprint conservation area in the world, a remarkable discovery in Bolivia changed all perspectives on dinosaur fossil footprints.
Cal Orck’o Cliff, located near the city of Sucre, has now become an archaeological treasure trove with over 12,000 dinosaur footprints spread across 465 fossilized trails, serving as a vibrant testament to the richness and diversity of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem.
Cal Orck’o Cliff in Bolivia.
Cal Orck’o: The Majestic Fossil Cliff with a Vertical Orientation
One of the most impressive features of Cal Orck’o is how the fossil footprints are almost vertically aligned on the limestone cliff face. With an incline of up to 72 degrees, this massive wall stretches 1.5 kilometers long and rises over 100 meters high, leaving a strong impression on all who witness it. However, these footprints were not originally vertical. Around 68 million years ago, Cal Orck’o was a flat mud plain next to a lake on land that was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. Dinosaurs walked along the lakeshore, leaving clear footprints in the soft ground, preserved by the moist conditions.
The formation of the shale that preserved these footprints occurred due to a massive volcanic eruption that covered the mud plain with millions of cubic meters of ash, protecting the dinosaur footprints from weathering. Over time, new sediment layers covered the ash, and through natural pressure, this sediment turned to stone. Ultimately, the powerful tectonic movements during the formation of the Andes pushed this rock layer up, creating the inclined cliff we see today.
Fossil footprints are nearly vertical on the limestone cliff face.
A Fossil Treasure Trove with Footprints of Many Dinosaur Species
Cal Orck’o is currently the largest treasure trove of fossil footprints ever known, covering over 65,000 square meters of cliff. Archaeologists have meticulously recorded every detail of this area from 1998 to 2015, mapping high-resolution data that documents more than 12,000 individual footprints belonging to at least nine different dinosaur species.
Among these are well-known dinosaur species such as ankylosaurs (armored dinosaurs), theropods (carnivorous dinosaurs), ornithopods (herbivorous dinosaurs that could walk on two or four legs), and notably, giant titanosaurs, the largest dinosaurs that ever existed. A remarkable discovery is the trail of a young Tyrannosaurus rex, referred to by scientists as “Johnny Walker.” This path extends for 347 meters, making it the longest known trail of a dinosaur to date.
This location is currently the largest treasure trove of fossil footprints ever known.
A Land Recording the Behavior and Life of Dinosaurs
The fossil traces at Cal Orck’o are not only evidence of the existence of dinosaurs but also record a part of their lifestyle. Some footprints indicate solitary movement behavior, demonstrated through limping steps, stops, turns, or even the trail of a theropod hunting. Some large footprints belong to massive sauropods – a group of giant herbivores in the Titanosaurus genus – showing herd behavior as they moved together in a herding pattern, making up about 26% of the total traces at this site.
Notably, two types of sauropod footprints show differences in shape and size among species within the same group of giant dinosaurs. One type has a wide oval shape, while the other is round and resembles a hoof. These differences help paleontologists identify individual dinosaur species and analyze their behavior and interactions within their natural environment.
The fossil traces at Cal Orck’o record a part of the lifestyle of dinosaurs.
The Fragile State of a Paleontological Heritage
Although Cal Orck’o is now a valuable archaeological site, its future remains precarious. This site was first discovered in the 1990s when a mining company uncovered a stone wall filled with dinosaur footprints. Mining activities were subsequently halted to preserve the site; however, natural factors such as gravity, heavy rains, and earthquakes continue to exert pressure on the cliff, gradually eroding the ancient traces.
Without intervention, Cal Orck’o is likely to continue suffering severe erosion, even facing the risk of disappearing in the near future. To protect these footprints, scientists and managers are making efforts to research long-term conservation measures. Some options being considered include constructing protective structures to shield the cliff from weather impacts or conducting further studies to assess erosion levels, aimed at prolonging the lifespan of this site.
This site was first discovered in the 1990s.
The Importance of Cal Orck’o in Scientific History
Cal Orck’o is not merely a paleontological heritage; it is also a rare testament to how geological events in history have created and preserved a massive “dinosaur dance floor.” The dinosaur footprints found here offer scientists a vivid insight into the world of Late Cretaceous dinosaurs, from solitary behavior to social living.
Through studies at Cal Orck’o, scientists can reconstruct the lives and environments of dinosaurs, providing modern humans with deeper insights into the planet millions of years ago. Moreover, this heritage serves as a reminder of the fragility of nature and the importance of preserving valuable paleontological sites for future generations.
The dinosaur footprints here offer scientists a vivid insight into the world of dinosaurs.
With over 12,000 footprints preserved for millions of years, Cal Orck’o stands as a time wall, retaining the indelible marks of a vanished world. However, in the future, to protect and maintain this dinosaur footprint wall, continuous efforts from scientists, conservation organizations, and the international community are necessary.
