The Geoscience Research Institute (GRI) has announced the publication of a landmark study by Raúl Esperante, senior scientist at GRI, in the open-access journal PLOS One. Esperante and his team have documented more than 16,000 dinosaur footprints at the Carreras Pampas tracksite in Bolivia, now considered the most extensive dinosaur tracksite ever recorded. 

The discovery captures a range of dinosaur activity along an ancient shoreline, including walking, running, swimming, sharp turns, and tail-drag marks. The research documents footprints ranging from under 10 centimeters (approximately 3.9 inches) to over 30 centimeters (about 11.8 inches), left primarily by three-toed theropods. Evidence of ripple marks and the orientation of the tracks suggests that these dinosaurs were actively moving along a coastal environment. 

Photo: Geoscience Research Institute

Photo: Geoscience Research Institute

As a senior scientist at GRI, Esperante’s work is particularly significant for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His field-based research contributes to the Adventist Church’s ongoing efforts to carefully explore the natural world, engage with questions of origins from a biblical perspective, and support believers who value both faith and scientific discovery. This study advances global paleontological knowledge while offering the Adventist community peer-reviewed research produced to high scientific standards.

“The Carreras Pampas site sets new world records for the number of individual footprints, continuous trackways, tail traces, and swimming traces,” said Esperante. “We are only beginning to understand the richness of these sites in Bolivia. Many more tracksites remain to be studied.” 

The discovery has also drawn widespread attention in global media. Major outlets such as CNN and Phys.org have highlighted the Bolivian “dinosaur freeway,” introducing the Carreras Pampas tracksite and Esperante’s research to audiences far beyond the scientific and faith communities. This coverage, along with ongoing interest from other news organizations, is expected to broaden public awareness of Bolivia’s fossil heritage and the contribution of GRI scientists and partners to paleontological research.

The research project highlights the value of synergy between Church-affiliated academic institutions, governmental entities, and local communities. Esperante’s international research team has used the track site as a training ground for park guides and Adventist educators, created opportunities for mentoring young researchers, and been recognized for contributing to the appreciation and preservation of Bolivia’s natural heritage. 

Photo: Geoscience Research Institute

Photo: Geoscience Research Institute

For the global scientific community, the findings open new avenues for understanding dinosaur behavior, offering extensive evidence of group travel patterns, locomotive diversity, and shoreline dynamics from upper Cretaceous strata. For Adventist educators, pastors, and church members around the world, this research underscores the importance of ongoing scientific engagement and the role of GRI in contributing meaningful, peer-reviewed scholarship. 

GRI leaders say they celebrate Esperante’s achievement and remain committed to supporting research that informs, educates, and inspires both the Adventist Church and the broader public while embracing a biblical worldview of creation and earth history. 

This article was provided by the Geoscience Research Institute.