Casgliadau Arlein

This is two red deer footprint-tracks, 6070a and b; 6070b is positioned 4cm behind 6070b. Both footprint-tracks are of a similar size and level of preservation making it quite possible that they were made by the same animal. If this is the case then what we have here is similar to the positioning we saw in footprint-tracks 6112 N and O on the lower foreshore, where the hind foot is coming in close behind the forefoot as the deer is walking, or perhaps trotting. The toes in both tracks are slightly splayed, probably indicating that the mud was quite soft. The animal was moving putting the emphasis of its weight of its toes, as the tips of the cleaves have made more of an impression in the sediment than the pads. This is particularly noticeable in 6070b, where the front half of the foot has sunk into the sediment leaving a distinct impression, whilst the pads have hardly made a mark at all. A maximum depth of was 0.5cm was recorded for 6070a and 1.3cm for 6070b.