What's Happening?
A 66-million-year-old triceratops skeleton, named 'Trey', was sold for $5.5 million on Joopiter, the auction platform of musician Pharrell Williams. This sale marks a record for an online-only dinosaur auction. The skeleton, excavated in 1993 from the Lance
Formation in Wyoming, was restored in Germany and displayed at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center for nearly three decades. The sale included comprehensive documentation, such as the original fossil lease agreement and excavation photographs. The skeleton, measuring 5.3 meters long and 2.2 meters high, consists of over 70% original fossil material. The buyer's identity remains undisclosed.
Why It's Important?
The sale of Trey highlights the growing market for dinosaur fossils, which has seen significant price increases in recent years. This trend raises concerns among paleontologists about the impact on academic research, as landowners may increase lease prices for fossil-rich lands, potentially limiting access for scientific study. The high prices also reflect a broader interest in paleontological artifacts as luxury items, which could influence future market dynamics and accessibility for educational institutions.
