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Just outside Sucre, Bolivia, lies one of the world’s most extraordinary paleontological sites: Cal Orck’o. This towering limestone wall, over 300 feet high and nearly a mile long, is etched with more than 5,000 dinosaur footprints—an ancient snapshot of life from 68 million years ago.
A Prehistoric Parade Frozen in Stone
Cal Orck’o, meaning “Lime Hill” in Quechua, is part of the El Molino Formation, a geological layer dating to the Late Cretaceous period. During this era, the area was a muddy lakeshore where dinosaurs of various species left their marks. Over time, sediment covered these tracks, preserving them. Tectonic activity later uplifted the region, tilting the once-horizontal lakebed into a near-vertical wall, revealing the footprints in stunning detail.
A Diverse Assembly of Dinosaur Tracks
The wall boasts 465 distinct trackways, representing at least nine different dinosaur species. These include:
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Sauropods: Massive herbivores with long necks and tails.
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Theropods: Bipedal carnivores, including a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed “Johnny Walker,” whose 347-meter trackway is the longest of its kind.
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Ankylosaurs: Armored dinosaurs known for their distinctive footprints.
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Ornithopods: Herbivorous dinosaurs that walked on two legs.
These tracks provide invaluable insights into dinosaur behavior, movement, and social interactions.
Visiting Cal Orck’o
Visitors can explore the site through guided tours offered by the nearby Parque Cretácico. The park features life-sized dinosaur replicas, educational exhibits, and a viewing platform that offers a panoramic view of the footprint-covered wall. Safety measures, including helmets, are provided due to the site’s location within an active quarry.
Cal Orck’o stands as a testament to Earth’s dynamic history, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of dinosaurs and the geological forces that preserved their legacy.
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