The Dinosaur Quarry is situated in Pontrelli in the Valley of Altamura, known as the Enchanted Valley. 30,000 dinosaur prints were discovered here in 1999, over an area of 12,000 square metres, making the quarry one of the most significant sites in Europe. The findings date to approximately 70 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period, when there was a warm, damp climate and over 200 herbivore and carnivore dinosaurs lived in the area. The prints range from 5-6 cm to 40-50 cm, which supports the theory of the presence of dinosaurs almost 10m tall. The prints have been well conserved, making it possible to identify folds and digits, probably due to the presence of mud and mould which fossilized them.
Cava Pontrelli offers an important area of study as numerous prints can be linked to a wide range of life forms. Furthermore, it appears that the area was covered with vegetation sufficient to support all the animals present.
Apulia Film Commission
Cineporti di Puglia/Bari — c/o Fiera del Levante - Lungomare Starita 1 — 70132 Bari
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Fax: +39 080 9147464
Email: email@apuliafilmcommission.it
