Oldest fossilized dinosaur eggs ever found

From Examiner: Oldest fossilized dinosaur eggs ever found
Research made public in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 23, 2012, details the discovery of dinosaur eggs, embryos, nests, and reproductive behavior never before known and never as old

The fossils detail 190 million year old nesting sites of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus in sedimentary rocks from the Early Jurassic Period in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa

Most impressive are the multiple imprints of "baby dinosaur" foot prints at several of the sites.

Ten nests of varying size and at varying depths (depth usually is indicative of increasing age) were discovered that contained as many as 34 eggs in clustered clutches.

The placement of the nests and the placement of the eggs as well as the small footprints indicate dinosaurs (at least Massospondylus) displayed behaviors known to be associated with dinosaurs remains that are much less recent (younger).

The Massospondylus mothers returned to the same nest and same nesting area repeatedly. Females from the same herd or family laid their eggs in the same area. The eggs found were neatly and closely arranged indicating the mother caused that arrangement.

This is the oldest known discovery that indicates these behaviors in Massospondylus.

Robert Reisz, a paleontologist from the University of Toronto (Mississauga), David Evans of the Royal Ontario Museum, Drs. Hans-Dieter Sues (Smithsonian Institute, USA), Eric Roberts (James Cook University, Australia), and Adam Yates (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)are responsible for the discovery and analysis.

"An exhibition currently on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) until May 2012, Dinosaurs Eggs and Babies: Remarkable Fossils from South Africa features the oldest fossilized dinosaur eggs with embryos ever found, as well as other impressive discoveries."