Dinosaur tracksite in Portugal

[Rodrigues <afrodite@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi
I’m mailing to put you in contact with some events that are passing in
Portugal.
Two years ago was discovered a dinosaur tracksite in a quarry near
Fatima (Galinha site).
The site is very important for several reasons that paleontologists can
explain better than me. One of them, the tacksite is very large, and the
tracks are very well preserved, representing the longest known sauropod
tracksite (Santos,1994).
Due to the large size of the site, the long and visually spectacular
trackways and the configuration of the quarry with an elevated rim
providing excellent overlooks, the site has great potential as an
outdoor educational interpretative center.
I personally comprove this aspect when (last month) went there with my
secondary class.
Since the discover, the owner assume a very important role in the regard
of the tracksite. He reduced the exploration to the limit.
During the past two years, the portuguese government started
conversations with the owner (Mr.Rui Galinha) and the result of it
became in nothing, partly because of the amounts of money involved
($8000000-eight million dollars!).
Last Tuesday Mr. Rui Galinha, fed up the situation, almost destroy the
tracksite with dynamite.
I think this action was a last SOS from the owner to the government.
The response to that act from the government was the cancelation of the
negotiations and the accusation of blackmailing.
And that’s the situation here in Portugal...
My appologies for my English.
Thank you
Luis Azevedo Rodrigues
lrodrigu@utad.pt
(or)
afrodite@relay.ua.pt