Finding a balance between the commercial value of a fossil and its scientific and cultural significance is fundamental to the continued preservation of global palaeoheritage for the enjoyment and inspiration of future generations. While some may think the scientific value comes into conflict with commercial interests, private gain should not be at the expense of conservation of valuable, precious resources. Global palaeontological wealth is invaluable. Open dialogue among members of the public, researchers, collectors and dealers is necessary for engaging all stakeholders in this complex topic. Global palaeontological wealthĪlthough the transparent sale and purchase of specimens is better than the alternative of driving it underground, we need more informed legislation in fossil collection and sale conditions. Often, once they are sold, they are no longer available for further research. Several of these specimens may be a scientific rarity.
In recent years, the sale of fossil specimens into private collections at prices that exceed the purchasing power of many museums and institutions has substantially increased. All of them are dedicated individuals who worked determinedly to unearth, curate, and preserve specimens, bringing them to light for study. Many key discoveries were only made thanks to the tireless, and often unrecogonized, work of palaeontologists, collectors and dealers like the British pioneer Mary Anning or South African dinosaur enthusiasts James Rhalane, Themba Jikajika and Dumangwe Thyobeka. The interest in owning a piece of natural history and the study of it are intertwined in a long and complex relationship with links to commercial and amateur palaeontologists as well as scientists. Fossils have been sold and purchased since the dawn of the field of palaeontology. The international palaeontological community continues to raise concerns over the sale of fossils, particularly in situations in which buyers are anonymous or when there are no tangible ties to long-term curation for public benefit in the purchasing agreement. And this not only regionally but internationally. These sales highlight the increasing economic disparity between a person or private company and that of a state-funded museum or institute.
T rex bones for sale how to#
Collectors who do not know how to properly care for the specimen may remove fossils from their unique sedimentary context, losing a wealth of valuable information about its ancient environment and ecosystem. It can also lead to fossil looting, fossil modification, forgeries or collection solely for financial gains by unscrupulous or naïve fossil collectors. These specimens form part of our collective natural palaeoheritage, a shared heritage focused primarily on fossil data.ĭisregarding for a moment the ethical ramifications, the sale of fossils can lead to diminishing scientific or educational value of important specimens if they are not publicly displayed or studied after private sale. Should the public be concerned that fossils are being sold at eye-watering prices, even when it is conducted legally and legitimately? Should we care? These sales generate public interest and put a spotlight on valuable palaeontological studies. The sale of dinosaur fossils recovered from private land is legal in the US. rex “Shen” was abandoned due to questions surrounding the authenticity of the bone density and copyright infringement. rex “Stan” for $31.8 million to a buyer who, until recently, remained anonymous. This sale comes off the back of the controversial sale of the T. Included in the bidding item is the hybrid skeleton, GPS coordinates for the specimens, a quarry map of one specimen, field photos, and the rights to make reproductions.
It is the first time such a sale is being made in Europe and only the third T. rex specimens which were found in two different places in the United States. On April 18, “TRX-293 Trinity”, a hybrid Tyrannosaurus rex made up of 50% fossilised bone and 50% cast replicas, will be auctioned for an estimated CHF5-8 million ($5.4-$8.8 million) in Zurich. Trinity is a chimaera, meaning it is made up of the skeletal remains of more than one T. But can you put a price tag on its fossils? And should they be a commodity? This formidable animal ruled life in the Late Cretaceous period and continues to dominate our imaginations in the 21st century.
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