67 Million-Year-Old T. Rex Fossil Sets New Auction Record
A fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex, estimated to be around 67 million years old, has been sold for an astonishing £37.4 million ($50.1 million) at a Sotheby's auction in New York. This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a dinosaur fossil.
The specimen, affectionately known as Gus, stands over 12 feet tall and includes more than 60% of the original bones, making it one of the most complete T. rex fossils discovered to date, according to Sotheby's. The identity of the successful bidder remains undisclosed.
The fossil was unearthed in 2021 on a remote ranch in South Dakota, USA. Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's worldwide head of science and natural history, described the sale as the culmination of years of effort. "Gus is not just an extraordinary find but also a specimen that has been meticulously excavated, documented, and preserved," Hatton stated.
The auction surpassed the previous record held by a stegosaurus in 2024 and is notable for being the first dinosaur sale to exceed the $50 million mark. Some scientists suggest this trend could signal a shift towards exclusive fossil collecting by wealthy individuals.
The reconstruction of Gus was a lengthy process. Excavation took place over three summers, from 2021 to 2023, when conditions allowed the ground to thaw. Following excavation, it required an additional three years of laboratory work to reassemble the skeleton. This detailed work revealed bite marks on the skull and previously healed broken ribs, indicating a tumultuous life possibly filled with scavenging and battles with other dinosaurs.
While the new owner of Gus has not been revealed, there is speculation about whether the fossil might be displayed in a public setting. The previous record-holder, a stegosaurus named Apex, was loaned to the American Museum of Natural History by its owner, billionaire Kenneth Griffin. There is hope that Gus might also become accessible to the public through a similar arrangement.
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