Sale of multimillion-dollar T. rex skeleton raises concerns for scientists

Palaeontologists express significant concerns regarding the impending auction of a T. rex skeleton, nicknamed "Gus," scheduled for Tuesday at Sotheby’s in New York. This remarkably complete skeleton, estimated to sell for between $20 million and $30 million, highlights a troubling trend where wealthy collectors jeopardize scientific research.

Concerns Over Fossil Auctions

The auction of Gus, a 3.8-metre-tall Tyrannosaurus rex, underscores a growing issue in paleontology. Prof. Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham states, "The current trend towards dinosaur fossils being marketed and sold like rare artworks at vast prices by auction houses is very concerning." The commodification of fossils as status symbols limits access for scientific study.

Gus was excavated over a three-year period from a ranch in Harding County, South Dakota, by Theropoda Expeditions, with the cooperation of landowner Gary Licking. The skeleton is believed to be around 67 million years old and was discovered in a remarkable state, standing in a predatory pose.

Impact on Scientific Research

Experts warn that the increasing prices of dinosaur fossils hinder museums and universities from acquiring valuable specimens. Prof. Stephen Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh notes, "If a dinosaur like this fetches tens of millions of dollars at auction, then there’s little that scientists or museums can do." Unlike in countries like Brazil or Mongolia, where fossils belong to the state, the U.S. allows landowners to sell their finds.

The first T. rex sold at auction, named "Sue," was purchased in 1997 for $8 million by the Field Museum in Chicago, thanks to donations from private entities. Since then, the auction of fossils has attracted affluent collectors, including celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Future of Dinosaur Fossils

While private ownership of fossils can lead to meaningful contributions, such as loans to museums, the risks remain. Dr. Thomas Carr, a vertebrate palaeontologist, emphasizes that private collections lack guarantees for long-term availability. He states, "A private collection has no guarantee that a fossil will stay in a collection for all time." This uncertainty poses a challenge for repeatability in research.

To ensure fossils remain accessible for scientific study, experts advocate for legal protections against commercial exploitation of significant finds like Gus. The continued trend of auctioning fossils threatens to create a divide between wealthy collectors and the scientific community, ultimately impacting future research.