- publication
- 01-01-2004
In February 2002, a new dinosaur tracksite was discovered on public land on the future course of the “Transjurane” highway in Courtedoux, Canton Jura northwestern Switzerland. The Courtedoux tracksite is a “multithematical” geotope (JORDAN, 2002a), with an extraordinary scientific potential and it has the potential for development into one of worldʼs largest and most important sauropod tracksites (LOCKLEY, 2002). Since its discovery, the protection and the conservation of the site in situ was promoted by the “Section de paléontologie”. Simultaneously, the high level of scientific, media and public interest has proven the great scientific and educational value and the great potential for sustainable touristic use of the site. According to Swiss law, the site is a natural object of high scientific value and has to be protected from destruction, as, in Switzerland, heritage sites of national value are rated with the same level of significance as federal infrastructure projects, such as highways. Due to the favourable location of the site at one end of a viaduct, the site could be protected by the construction of an additional small highway-bridge. Such a building could provide ideal conditions for the conservation, scientific research and public viewing of the site.
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