Triassic Dinosaur Tracks

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I captured the details of Triassic dinosaur tracks in a creek bed during field work along the Colorado-Oklahoma border in 2017 using photogrammetry. Traditionally, paleontologists would create molds or casts of fossil trackways, but this method can harm the sites and is now strongly discouraged among experts. Many nonprofessionals still use plaster to replicate fossil tracks, a practice considered vandalism on public lands in the United States. By employing photogrammetry, anyone can reproduce fossil tracks without causing damage and stay within the law, all while avoiding the need to transport heavy plaster or water. This article features a photo demonstrating how repeated use of plaster to cast footprints can lead to lasting harm.