The footprints of long extinct creatures preserved in stone have a magic and intrigue of their own, as they reveal the actual activity of prehistoric animals. They are known as 'trace' fossils due to the fact that they are not parts of the animal itself (bones etc.) preserved in stone. In other words they are not what are generally called 'fossils'. In many respects, however, such evidence of a remote prehistoric past is every bit as fascinating as that provided by more conventional fossils.
Some of the most celebrated footprints of extinct creatures are, of course, those of dinosaurs, and the best known of these have been found in the USA. It is a little known fact, however, that a few very rare footprints have been found in southern England.
Certain areas close to Horsham are renowned for a kind of sandstone known appropriately as Horsham Stone, and this substance is quarried and commonly used for paving and other building purposes. In among this quarried material are sometime found the remarkable remains of dinosaurs.
Occasionally, dinosaur remains have been found that are remarkably complete and one in particular, known as Baryonix, is unique and is quite distinct from any other known predatory dinosaur. In fact it has become world famous, but what is less well known is that along with fossilized bones there are
found in the Horsham Stone, very rarely, dinosaur footprints.
Summers Place Auctions are proud to be able to offer several of these. Among them are footprints of the well known dinosaur Iguanodon, and another that looks as if it was left by the rare Polacanthus. Most excitingly, however, is a footprint that seems to have been left by a specimen of Baryonix itself.
Fossil, interior design, decorative, natural history
