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The first dinosaur footprint was discovered in 1802 by a farmer in Massachusetts (U.S.). In Europe the first discovery dates back to 1828 in Scotland. But the founding father of fossil study is without a doubt Edward Hitchcock, who in 1836 published the first study of fossils.

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In Spain, the discovery of jurassic footprints began at the end of the 19th Century. Spain has several sites of interest among which we have highlighted those located in La Rioja, Guadalajara, Asturias, Cantabria, Castell�n, Soria and Burgos.

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The Rioja route
The remains unearthed in this autonomous community date back to the Cretacian period following the Jurassic and the point at which tectonic movements began forming continents. It was a period of pleasant, warm weather which created the ideal conditions for the survival of dinosaurs.

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The red and grey soils of the lower Rioja and Camero Viejo conserve some 10,000 remains. A good place to start the route is the area of Soto in Cameros, with over 50 dinosaur footprints. Another interesting spot is the Centro Paleontol�gico, located in the municipality of Enciso. This is a completely reformed shoe factory that is now a centre for the investigation of fossils. The visitor will find exhibits of footprint molds, scale reproductions of dinosaurs and other interesting parts such as feet, heads, nails, etc.

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Fossil sites in Soria
The Sorian fossil sites are located in what is now a mountain range, but which was formerly a vast delta plain through which an ample river system flowed.

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The sites in this province originate from the so-called Oncala Group (between 140 and 128 million years old). The main fossil areas are Bret�n, Santa Cruz de Yanguas and Villar del R�o.

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Jurassic Asturias
The beach of La Griega, in Colunga, is the location of a record: it boasts the world's largest dinosaur footprint. The foot measures some 1.30 metres in length and its owner was an enormous bronchiosaurus measuring 22 metres in length and weighing 90 tons.

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There are nine different routes to follow if you want to study fossils of different types of dinosaur. These are Mer�n, Oles, Faro Tazones, Puerto Tazones, Lastres, La Griega, Playa Vega, Tere�es and Ribadesella.

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Burgos: Towns of Regumiel de la Sierra, Salas de los Infantes, Mambrillas de Lara and Quintanar de la Sierra.
Teruel: Ari�o and Castellote.
Ja�n: Santisteban del Puerto and Cambil
Castell�n: Vallivana
Huesca: Ar�n