According to the standard geologic timetable, humans did not appear on earth until approximately 60 million years after dinosaurs became extinct. Nevertheless, for many years claims were made by some strict creationists, and continue to be encouraged by a few individuals, that fossil human footprints or "giant man tracks" occur alongside dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy Riverbed of Glen Rose, Texas.

However, initial critical work in the early 1970's,[1] and more intensive scientific studies in recent years, have convincingly refuted the "man track" claims, and led to their abandonment even by most creationists. The alleged human tracks involve a variety of phenomena, including elongate dinosaur tracks, erosional features, indistinct markings of unknown origin, and a few carvings.

State Park Ledge. This shelf, situated above the main track layer in Dinosaur Valley State Park, is across the river from the north-west parking lot. A variety of supposed "man tracks" here were first publicized by Stanley Taylor and crew in the late 1960's, and were subsequently advocated by other "man track" enthusiasts.[2] However, careful analysis of the supposed prints here indicates that they are merely natural irregularities and erosional features of the substrate. Many past "man track" advocates had applied water, oil, or other substances to the markings to encourage the appearance of human shapes; however, without selective highlighting none show clear human features.[3]

The Taylor Site. This was the Paluxy site most often claimed to contain human tracks, beginning with Stanley Taylor's research and film in the late 1960's and early 1970's,[4] and continuing with other claims throughout the 1970's and 1980's[5]. However, the most thorough analyses indicate that the alleged human tracks here are elongate, metatarsal dinosaur tracks--made by dinosaurs that, at least at times, impressed their soles and heels as they walked.[6] When the digit marks of such tracks (which are common in the Paluxy Riverbed) are subdued by one or more factors (erosion, sediment infilling, or mud-collapse), they often resemble giant human prints. Most of the tracks on the Taylor Site are largely infilled with a secondary sediment which hardened into the original track depressions. When the tracksite surface is well cleaned, at least some tracks in each trail show shallow tridactyl (three-toed) digit impressions indicating dinosaurian origin, as as well as color and texture distinctions corresponding to the infilled material and further confirming the dinosaurian nature of the tracks.[7] Recent claims that some of these tracks have human prints within them have been shown to be as baseless as the original claims.[8]

The Baugh/McFall Sites. In the late 1960's and 1970's one trail on this ledge was considered human by some workers[9], but later acknowledged by other creationists to consist of eroded, elongate dinosaur tracks.[10] Since 1982 several other sites along this ledge have been excavated by Carl Baugh and associates, who claimed many other "man tracks" there.[11] However, rigorous studies have failed to support such claims. The alleged human tracks on these sites involve several phenomena, including elongate dinosaur tracks and parts thereof; indistinct elongate marks of unknown origin that were not in striding trails; shallow, vague markings in the rock surface or overlying marl; invertebrate trace patterns, and some markings with evidence of deliberate alteration.[12]

Alleged Human and Cat tracks loose rocks. Some loose blocks of rock with human or cat-like prints, reputed to have come from Glen, first appeared during the late 1930's. These tracks were promoted as genuine by some creationists;[13] however, anatomic problems with the prints, knowledge of past carving practices in Glen Rose, and problematic cross-sectional features, lead most researchers to reject their authenticity.[14]

Other Loose Fossils and Artifacts. Among other objects claimed by a few to represent "out-of-order" fossils are an alleged "human tooth," "trilobite," and a hammer. The tooth, found in the Paluxy in 1987, has been conclusively shown to be a fish tooth.[15] The trilobite, reportedly found decades ago in the Paluxy, was not documented in place, and cannot be linked reliably to the riverbed strata.[16] The hammer, reportedly from a paleozoic formation near London, Texas, is encased in a concretion and thus may be unrelated to the age of the host rock.[17] Other Texas artifacts have also been claimed by some to be "out-of-order" fossils, but also are not well supported.

Conclusions. Although genuine dinosaur tracks are abundant in Texas, claims of human tracks have not withstood close scientific scrutiny, and in recent years have been largely abandoned even by most creationists. Alleged Paluxy "man tracks" involve a variety of spurious phenomena, including erosional features, metatarsal dinosaur tracks, indistinct markings of unknown origin, and a few loose carvings.

Note: Many sites outside Dinosaur Valley State Park are on or alongside private property. Permission should be secured from the respective land owners before visiting such sites. Also, no excavation, damming, or other disturbance in the Paluxy Riverbed beyond light sweeping or brushing to clean tracks may be conducted anywhere in the Paluxy riverbed without written permission of the appropriate authorities, including the Department of Parks and Wildlife, and, inside Dinosaur Valley State Park, the park superintendent.

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[1] Neufeld, Berney, 1975, "Dinosaur Tracks and Giant Men", Origins, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 64-76.

[2] Beierle, Fred, 1977, Man, Dinosaurs, and History, Prosser, WA: Perfect Printing Co.; Dougherty, Cecil N., 1979 (sixth edition), Valley of the Giants, Bennett printing Company, Cleburne, TX.; see also ref. 10. Numerous other publications during the 1970's and 1980's also promoted "man track" claims.

[3] Farlow, James O., 1987, Lower Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracks, Paluxy River Valley, Texas, SCGSA, Waco, Tx. Also ref. 6, 12.

[4] Taylor, Stanley E., 1973, Footprints in Stone (film), Films for Christ Association (Eden Films), Elmwood, IL (now Mesa, AZ).

[5] See ref. 1

[6] Kuban, Glen, 1986a, The Taylor Site "Man Tracks, " Origins, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1-9; Kuban, Glen, 1986b, Elongate Dinosaur Tracks, In: Gillette, David D. and Martin G. Lockley, eds., Dinosaur Tracks and Traces, 1989, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 57-72; Hastings, Ronnie J., 1988, Rise and Fall of the Paluxy Man Tracks, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (Journal of the ASA), Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 144-155.

[7] Kuban, Glen, 1986c, Color Distinctions and Other Curious Features of Dinosaur Tracks Near Glen Rose, Texas, In: Gillette, David D. and Martin G. Lockley, eds., Dinosaur Tracks and Traces, 1989, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 427-440; Hastings, Ronnie J., 1987, New Observations on Paluxy Tracks Confirm Their Dinosaurian Origin, Journal of Geological Education, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 4-15.

[8] Kuban, Glen J., 1989, Retracking Those Incredible Man Tracks , NCSE Reports, Vol. 9, No. 4, Special Section.

[9] Taylor, Stanley E., 1968, Search for Man Tracks in the Paluxy River, Films for Christ Special Report, October; Taylor, Stanley E., 1971, The Mystery Tracks in Dinosaur Valley, Bible Science Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 1-7;

[10] Morris, John D. 1980, Tracking Those Incredible Dinosaurs, San Diego, CA, Creation-Life Publishers, pp. 134-136, 197-98.

[11] Baugh, Carl E., 1982, Enemies Survived Together for A While (video Tape), Creation Evidences Museum, Glen Rose, TX; Baugh, Carl, Baugh, 1987, Dinosaur, Promise Publishing, Orange, CA. Baugh's claims are also repeated in newsletters and tapes distributed by his Creation Evidences Museum.

[12] Cole, John R., and Laurie R. Godfrey, eds., 1985, Creation/Evolution, Issue 15, Vol. 5, No. 1, pages 16-21

[13] Burdick, Clifford C., "When Giants Roamed the Earth," Signs of the Times, July 25, 1950; Morris, Henry M., and John C. Whitcomb, 1961, The Genesis Flood, Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, pp. 173-175.

[14] See references 1 and 12.

[15] Hastings, Ronnie J., 1987, Creationists' "Glen Rose Man" Proves to be a Fish Tooth (as Expected), NCSE Reports, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 14-15.

[16] Hastings, 1986, Tracking Those Incredible Creationists: The Trail Continues, Creation/Evolution, Issue XVII, pp. 19-27; Hastings, 1987, Tracking Those Incredible Creationists: The Trail Goes On, Creation/Evolution, Issue XXI, pp. 30-42.

[17] Cole, John C., 1985, If I Had a Hammer, Creation/Evolution, Issue XV, Vol.5, No. 1, pp. 46-47.

Glen J.Kuban
paleo@ix.netcom.com
Box 33232, N. Royalton, OH 44133