An Edmonton paleontologist is relying on ancient folklore to retrace the stone footprints of giant dinosaurs. In ancient China, the discovery of these prehistoric tracks mystified the population and ingrained belief in the phoenix, a giant supernatural bird. "The tracks of such dinosaurs look, for all the world, like a humongous chicken scratch so, they were thought to be made by a phoenix." "There are a number cases where wonderfully preserved dinosaur footprints — multiple tracks — had been found and shrines were actually erected nearby," Persons said. (Amanda Kelley)In China, local folklore about dinosaur footprints is preserved in oral traditions which persist today.

Source: CBC News October 19, 2017 16:07 UTC