Message #109509

[Bianca]

Alternative Explanations


The study rejects several alternative explanations for the unusual collection of pothole-like impressions in the rock.

"An initial interpretation of the impressions might be that they are potholes, the product of modern erosion," Seiler said.

"However," Seiler said, "upon close inspection many of the impressions are ringed by mounds of displaced sand that had to be formed when the sand was soft, before it was turned to rock."

The research team also "started seeing repeating patterns … footprints and, in some cases, three clear toes," he said.

Such evidence for dinosaur tracks outweighs evidence for the other possibilities, he said.