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Ceratosaurus fossil, which is only four existing, sold for $ 30.5 million at auction. USD.
A rare dinosaur fossil is “one of the best and most detailed examples of its kind,” said Sotheby’s Sotheby’s report published on Wednesday.
An example that is the only “Ceratosaurus” of minors from four fossils sold for its $ 4 million to $ 6 million in Sotheby in New York after six minutes of battle between six different contestants.
Close view of fossil’s head – Matthew Sherman
Ceratosaurus nasicornis was a meat eating predator with a nose horn, long teeth and bone armor that ran down and tail.
Satheby of six feet, three -inch (1.9 meters) tall and about 10 feet, eight -inch (3.25 meters), this juvenile fossil is made up of 139 bone elements, 57 of which consists of a “excellent practically complete skull”, according to Sotheby’s.
He was found in 1996. Bone cabin’s career in Wyoming and dates back to the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago.
Fossil was exhibited at the Ancient Life Museum at the point of Thanksgiving, Utah, 2000-2024. And was not investigated or officially described in a scientific journal, said Sotheby’s.
Ceratosaurus Head X -ray – Sotheby’s
“Ceratosaurus intends to lend it to the institution as suitable for this rarity and importance,” the auctional palace said.
In the same sale, a meteorite, which is the largest known piece of Mars on Earth, is sold for $ 5.3 million.
“These star results emphasize deep and enduring admiration and respect for the world of the natural world-the farthest achievements of the space to the ancient earth. What draws a collector is not only a passion for science; it is a deeply established curiosity of natural history and natural history.
A person standing next to the fossil is depicted. – Matthew Sherman
Mark Westgarth, a professor at the University of Leeds, England, the Art Market, CNN said the sale is “a part of the recent interest in fossils and the revival of natural history.”
For example, Sotheby’s also sold the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction, the Apex the Stegosaur, which in 2024. In July Collected $ 44.6 million. USD.
“At the top of the market … It seems that it is increasingly eager to ‘separate’,” said Westgarth. “These dinosaur specimens also have a special aesthetics – they are sculptural and intimidate inspirational.”
For Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution of Edinburgh University in Scotland, such price labels are shocking.
“Who has such money to spend on dinosaur? Definitely not museums or educational institutions,” he told CNN.
“Although I am glad that the buyer can lend a skeleton for the museum that needs to be exhibited, this is currently only an uncertain offer. The buyer is still anonymous,” added Brusatt.
“I am afraid that this skeleton will disappear into the air, the oligarch or bank vault manor to accumulate value just another investment in the risk insurance fund portfolio and see no daylight until it is auctioned again, maybe never,” he said.
“The essence, the world in which dinosaur skeletons can get tens of millions of dollars in auction in minutes, there is no world where dinosaurs will be available for a long time to educate and inspire everyone,” added Brusatt.
However, Westgarth says that there is a “symbiotic” connection between the market and the interests of broader research.
He quoted Mary Anning, who discovered fossils on the southern coast of England in the early 19th century, opened a successful fossil store.
“Here the fossil market acted as a catalyst for 19th century public institutions, increasing the increasing attention and public interest and acting as a catalyst for increased dinosaur fossil research activities,” Westgarth said Fossil Buyer.
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