At auction, rare dinosaur fossils dating back 150 million years bring $15.7 million.
The same location in Carbon County, Wyoming, in the United States, yielded all three
remains.
At a recent Christie's auction in London, UK, the fossils of three rare
dinosaurs—two Allosaurus and one Stegosaurus—brought an incredible $15.7 million.
According to the BBC, the three dinosaurs' skeletons, which are thought to be around
150 million years old, were discovered during an excavation in Carbon County, Wyoming,
in the United States.
Following the dig, the fossils were carefully restored and transported to the English capital
in twelve containers before being put up for auction at Christie's.
James Hyslop, head of Science and Natural History at Christie's, remarked, "It is humbling
to be in the presence of these old giants and marvel at the glories of our Earth's history."
Two of the most recognizable dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic period, about 150 million
years ago, are represented by the fossils of the Allosaurus and Stegosaurus.
Known for its keen claws and strong bite, the Allosaurus was a dangerous predator in its
day and is frequently considered a forerunner of the famous Tyrannosaurus rex (T rex).
The classic herbivore Stegosaurus, on the other hand, was distinguished by its spiked tail
and armored plates, which served as efficient defense against predators and enabled it to
adapt to a harsh environment.
"There is no whole dinosaur skeleton," Hyslop told the BBC, adding that all three relics
were augmented with 3D-printed, sculpted, and cast
materials before being exhibited on specially made frames.
There are approximately 144 bone components in the Stegosaurus, 143 in the adult
Allosaurus, and 135 in the juvenile.
Although dinosaur bones might fetch millions of dollars, some experts have criticized
auction sales, claiming that fossils frequently wind up in private collections, denying
the public and researchers access to these important discoveries.
Hyslop asserted, however, that "the bulk of private collectors engaged in this field are
willing to share their interest" based on his experience. "The T-Rex, Stan,
and a raptor skeleton, the two most recent dinosaurs to be auctioned at Christie's,
are currently in museums' custody or on public display," he stated.
Source geo.tv
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