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at the nearby presence of
Tyrannosaurus rex
, the most redemptive character of the
movie, and who was also from the Late Cretaceous. (The casting of both dinosaurs,
along with
Triceratops
,
Paralophosaurus
, and
Velociraptor
, also illustrates why
Jurassic Park
should have been titled
Cretaceous Park
instead.) Unfortunately for
the prey but fortunately for the predator, one member of the flock is separated from
its compatriots and singled out for sacrifice, while the others continue running for
safety.
Althoughperhapsmorethanahundredmillionpeoplehavewatchedthisscene
in the movie, I'll bet a six-pack of my favorite adult beverage that less than 1%
of these people know how it mirrors the initial scientific interpretation of the Lark
Quarrytracksite.Ofcourse,localsinWintonknowaboutthispieceoffictionimitat-
ingfact,andIhaveheardthemjokeabouthowniceitwouldhavebeenfortheLark
Quarry Conservation Centre to receive a tiny royalty from the film profits as a sort
of honorary tithe. Regardless, I have been pleased to contribute to the local Winton
economy in a non-Spielbergian way by visiting the tracksite, bringing others there
withme,stayinginWinton,purchasingpubmeals,singing
Waltzing Matilda
,andof
course quenching my thirst with Queensland-produced beers, all ably demonstrat-
ing some of the touristic and economic impact of dinosaur tracks, or what I like to
call “ichnotourism.”
What Made the Three-Toed Dinosaur Track?
In paleontology, just like any other science, a scientific hypothesis might rule for
several decades or more, enter the public realm, and become part of popular lore.
Nonetheless,becausethesciencebehindsuchstoriesisalwayschanging,thismeans
that what we took for granted as a “true story,” even one we like very much, can be
upended in a way that surprises everyone, including the paleontologists revising its
narrative. Such is the situation with the “giant stalking theropod dinosaur causing
a small dinosaur stampede” story of the Lark Quarry dinosaur tracksite in Queens-
land.
