Forget the so-called sale of the century; the auction house Sotheby’s is gearing up for a historic event. On July 14th, live bidding commenced for a variety of remarkable items, including a stunning fossil masterpiece—Lot 20, a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton dating back an astonishing 67 million years.
The specimen, affectionately named Gus, is celebrated as one of the largest and most complete tyrannosaurus skeletons ever unearthed. Gus is expected to attract bids of up to $30 million, appealing to both public museums and rich private collectors. According to experts, private collectors and auction houses are increasingly influential in the fossil market. They have been generating substantial hype around such rare finds. Unfortunately, when fossils are sold in auctions as luxury items, crucial aspects of their history can be permanently lost to scientific study. Paleontologists continue to engage with this trend, yet there are significant concerns about conservation.
By almost any metric, Gus holds significant importance. Sotheby’s emphasizes that this remarkable specimen was uncovered on a ranch in South Dakota and comprises “an impressive 183 fossilized bone elements,” achieving approximately 61% completeness in bone count. The fossil remains are expertly mounted on a custom-built steel armature, complete with replicas of missing bones, rendering a striking reconstruction of the skeleton poised as if in a fierce chase, teeth bared and ready to strike.
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Source: arstechnica.com