trackways
Fossilized travel routes
Trackways are paths or trails, especially ones preserved in geological or archaeological contexts.
The term most often refers to fossilized footprints left by dinosaurs or other ancient creatures: The trackways revealed that the animals traveled in herds.
It also describes ancient human paths or routes visible in landscapes, sometimes only from aerial photography.
Preserved ancient organism traces
- sauropodLarge long-necked dinosaur
- theropodBipedal carnivorous dinosaur group
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
Triassic · paleontology · footprints · preservation · sediment · excavation · locomotion · gait
Species over 44 kilograms
- hominidBipedal primate family
- paleolithicEarliest tool-making period
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
carbon-dating · stratigraphy · hominin · ice age · cave · mastodon · mammoth · excavation
Movement to new territory
- footprintsMarks left by walking
- pawprintsAnimal foot impressions
- hoofprintsUngulate foot impressions
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
corridor · habitat · trails · seasonal · movement · spoor · scat · game trail
Systematic data collection
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- terrainLand's physical features
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
satellite · topography · fieldwork · documentation · traverse · navigation · wilderness · discovery
Ancient empire's highway network
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- trade routesPaths for exchanging goods
- cobblestoneRiver-smoothed paving stone
- causewaysElevated roads over water
drovers · cattle trails · packhorse · medieval · Silk Road · Inca Trail · processional · ceremonial
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- sauropodLarge long-necked dinosaur
- theropodBipedal carnivorous dinosaur group
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
Cretaceous · Triassic · paleontology · footprints · preservation · sediment · excavation · locomotion · gait · bipedal
megafauna
Species over 44 kilograms
- hominidBipedal primate family
- paleolithicEarliest tool-making period
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
archaeology · carbon-dating · stratigraphy · hominin · ice age · cave · mastodon · mammoth · excavation · sediment
migration
Movement to new territory
- footprintsMarks left by walking
- pawprintsAnimal foot impressions
- hoofprintsUngulate foot impressions
wildlife · corridor · habitat · trails · seasonal · movement · spoor · scat · game trail · watering hole
survey
Systematic data collection
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- terrainLand's physical features
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
GPS · satellite · topography · fieldwork · documentation · traverse · navigation · wilderness · discovery · pathfinding
Roman roads
Ancient empire's highway network
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- trade routesPaths for exchanging goods
- cobblestoneRiver-smoothed paving stone
causeways · drovers · cattle trails · packhorse · medieval · Silk Road · Inca Trail · processional · ceremonial · bridleway
trackwaysskeletal remains
Preserved framework of deceased
bones · shells · teeth · exoskeletons · coprolites