Sale of Maximus T rex at Sotheby’s reveals growing interest in palaeontological finds at auction houses
, had just been released and there was new pop-culture interest in dinosaur skeletons. Sue became notorious as a result of a legal battle over her ownership. Since then, dinosaurs at auction and at art galleries have become a more common sight. Sue’s record price was broken by aPeter Larson is a palaeontologist and president of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in South Dakota – leader of the team which found both Sue and Stan.
Either way, museums and researchers have started to be priced out of buying rare specimens, or have missed discoveries because they were trafficked. “Most museums don’t have the resources to compete on a million-dollar price tag,” says Barrett. “There are some wealthy ones, particularly new museums in Dubai and Asia, but when dinosaurs disappear into private hands, it’s problematic. It’s uncertain what will happen to a specimen when its owner gets bored of it or needs to dispose of it.
But, says Barrett, ethical and legally operating commercial palaeontologists are vital for finding research specimens. “They find skeletons that would otherwise have eroded away . This trade is also of great value to the people involved. In Morocco and Madagascar, this is a good living for people without many options. The real problem is the lack of funding for museums.”
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