Dinosaur Footprints in Iran: A Heritage That Needs Protection Before Full Identification

Khosravi, one of the researchers of the newly identified footprints, stressed that contrary to what may be inferred from secondary reports and sensationalized publications, he is not the discoverer of these footprints. He is only responsible for the ongoing research planning on this finding.

Erfan Khosravi, a paleontologist and zoologist, announced this discovery in a message he published on his personal page on the X social network. In a conversation with Ambassador Arjan, he explained the reasons for refusing to publish details: the scientific investigations about the newly identified footprints have not yet been completed. Rushed dissemination of information and conclusions that have not yet been peer-reviewed may lead to misinterpretations of the significance and nature of the findings. On the other hand, announcing the details of the place of discovery and the identity of the people who identified these works can endanger the security of the site and the people related to it against the destroyers of natural works, profiteers and fossil smugglers.

Khosravi, who is one of the researchers of the newly identified footprints, emphasized: Contrary to what may be taken from the secondary news and published news, he is not the discoverer of these footprints and is only in charge of planning the research that is being done about this finding.

Pointing out that dinosaur footprints have been identified or reported in about 10 to 11 places in Iran, and in some of these areas there are collections containing several footprints, he explained that the experience of previous researches has shown that announcing the exact location of the discovery and the identity of the finders, before completing the investigations and providing the necessary conditions for the protection of the site, can have adverse consequences.

Khosravi, explaining the dangers of protecting fossils, said: The publication of his message on X social network, which was done with the aim of attracting small financial support for this scientific research, also attracted the attention of people who are looking to find the place of discovery and possibly exploit it personally. According to him, this issue is not new and vertebrate paleontology researchers in Iran have been facing similar problems for nearly three decades.

He explained that sometimes people mistakenly think that the presence of fossils in an area is a sign of buried treasure or valuables. Another group may damage natural areas with the aim of selling fossils. This is despite the fact that such works are part of the country's natural heritage and their protection is of scientific and public importance. The legal responsibility of the institutions in charge of protecting these works is also independent of the publication of research results.

Explaining the financial problems of paleontological research, Khosravi said: Contrary to popular belief, the investigation of dinosaur footprints is not limited to just finding a trace and taking a picture of it. The study of such an area requires the presence of several researchers at the site, spending several days for field investigation, mapping the footprints, measuring their characteristics and accurately recording the information.

According to him, one of the important parts of this research is recording the three-dimensional structure of footprints. The shape and depth of the depressions and the details of the contact of the foot with the sediment bed can provide researchers with valuable information about how the animal moves and the interaction of the foot with the sediments. To record this information, one can use methods such as photogrammetry and, if the protection and technical conditions are suitable, molding of the surface of the footprints. Carrying out these activities requires equipment, consumables, research force and field facilities and is naturally expensive.

Khosravi explained that in the past, part of the cost of these researches was provided by university credits and research support, and in most cases, researchers personally paid most of the costs. But now it has become much more difficult to finance in these ways.

He added that the distance between the personal financial ability of researchers and the actual costs of field research has increased so much that it is no longer possible to rely on personal resources as in the past. For this reason, researchers are forced to look for other ways of funding, including attracting financial sponsors and voluntary participation of science enthusiasts.

What to do when someone finds footprints?

This paleontologist, in response to a question about the mechanism of identifying and examining fossil artifacts in the country and to which institution or group the finder should inform the matter, explained: In practice, usually a person who finds an artifact first discusses the matter with the people he trusts. If this information does not fall into the hands of profiteers or unauthorized sellers of fossils, it may eventually reach a researcher who works in the relevant field and has the ability to scientifically investigate the findings. Unfortunately, despite years of cultural development, many people who come across such works, either hide them in the hope of discovering the treasure and achieve wealth, or find natural works from personal collections. Instead, many people constantly ask paleontologists about the discovery of treasure, and some people show worthless stones as fossils to others and call themselves experimental paleontologists (but in fact imaginary).

Khosravi said about the first action of the researchers after receiving such a report: The first task of the researcher is to check the originality and nature of the work. It should be possible that the reported sample is not a fossil trace at all, is fake or belongs to a sample that has been identified and studied before. After the initial investigations and if the originality and scientific importance of the work are confirmed, the documentation and specialized research stages will begin.

He emphasized that the aim of the researchers to examine dinosaur footprints is to record and study their scientific information, not to remove the remains from the discovery site. According to him, the researchers do not intend to separate anything from the area or take it as a souvenir. On the other hand, it is not possible to move a multi-ton rock without destroying it, even with heavy machinery. However, the size and weight of the rock does not mean that it is immune from destruction, and there are always some people who desperately try to separate a piece of it as a souvenir from the world of dinosaurs.

The fate of old dinosaur footprints in Iran

Referring to the fate of some previous works, Khosravi said: One of the first collections of dinosaur footprints in Iran was identified in the late 1340s and reported in the early 1350s, and it remained there until about thirty years later.

He explained that in some cases, the footprints were broken and their pieces were scattered or disappeared, without being able to confidently comment on the motive of the vandals. This experience shows that even fossils on large rocks may be destroyed by human intervention.

Khosravi emphasized that, therefore, informing about new findings should be accompanied by protection considerations and publishing the exact location of the sites should not increase the risk of destruction or unauthorized access to them.

Why should we not comment on new hasty findings?

Khosravi emphasized the need to observe professional considerations in informing about scientific findings and said: Until the investigations related to the new footprints are completed, no definitive comments should be made about the identity of the animals that created the footprints, the geological age of the layers containing them, the characteristics of the movement paths or other scientific details.

He explained that the hasty release of information before publishing a scientific article and gathering sufficient evidence and expert evaluation can create false perceptions and unrealistic expectations.

According to him, even determining whether a depression is indeed a dinosaur footprint, and if so, to what group of dinosaurs it belongs, may require detailed morphological, geological and comparative studies. Therefore, it is not possible to talk about these things with certainty before completing the research.

Khosravi further pointed to an example of early information in the international media and said: the documentary "Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur" with the presence of Sir David Attenborough in 2016 was made before the publication of the official description of the dinosaur, which was later introduced with the scientific name of Patagotitan mayorum. He explained that in that documentary and at the time of its public introduction, this animal was known as one of the contenders for the title of the largest dinosaur, but the estimates related to its dimensions and mass were examined and revised in subsequent researches, and this issue, which was emphasized by Attenborough, turned out to be incorrect. According to Khosravi, this example shows that even about important and real discoveries, claims may be made before the completion of the studies that need to be modified or made more precise later.

The importance of publishing results in scientific journals

In the end, Khosravi pointed out the necessity of publishing research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and said: after collecting and analyzing data, researchers present their results in the form of a scientific article to a specialized journal. If the editor of the journal deems the article suitable for review, he sends it to expert reviewers to evaluate its methods, evidence, analysis, and conclusions.

He explained that there are different methods for scientific judging and sometimes even the identity of the judges is unclear and remains hidden. What is important is the expert evaluation of research evidence and arguments.

Khosravi emphasized that public information, although it is important for society's awareness of scientific findings, cannot replace specialized research and scientific evaluation of results. For this reason, about the newly identified collection of dinosaur footprints, the current priority is to protect the site, record information and complete scientific investigations.