Three dinosaur skeletons were auctioned in London for over £12 million last week.
The trio of skeletons were all found in Wyoming, in the US, in one of the most famous fossil hunting grounds at the Meilyn Quarry, Medicine Bow in Carbon County.
They are all around 150 million years old, and have been completed with 3-D printing and cast parts.
Two of the skeletons were sold as a pair. The juvenile and adult Allosaurus – one of the great predators of the dinosaur world – realised £8.13 million, surpassing a top estimate of £8 million.
A Stegosaurus skeleton was sold for £4.275 million, within the £3 million to £5 million estimate range.
In a statement, James Hyslop, Head of Science and Natural History at Christie’s, said: “It has been an immense privilege to offer these extraordinary dinosaur fossils.
Como Bluff in Wyoming is the site of some of the most significant fossil finds in history. Image by Anky-man, CC BY-SA 3.0.
“This landmark auction, showcasing three dinosaurs for the first time at Christie’s and in London, marks a truly once-in-a-lifetime moment.
“We are thrilled with the results, which reflects the lasting allure of these remarkable specimens and their unparalleled insight into the ancient world.”
Sold in a two-lot sale called Jurassic Icons, the skeletons represented significant finds of creatures that have a major cultural footprint as stars of the dinosaur world.
Around 157 million years old, the stegosaurus has 144 fossil bones. The first ever Stegosaurus, meaning roughly “roof lizard” was also found around Como Bluff, where this creature was discovered in 2002.
The Allosaurus skeletons were 220 ½ inches and 136 ¼ inches high at their greatest extent.
The adult skeleton was found in 1994. The juvenile came up in 2002.
The skeletons were sold to private buyers.
However, they may wind up in the public domain, on loan at museums which can no longer afford the enormous fees the best skeletons can reach at auction.
Earlier this year, a stegosaurus called Apex, was sold for $44.6 million (around £35.25 million).
In 2020 a T-Rex called Stan realised $31.8 million (around £25 million).
Casts of the Stan skeleton are now on display in many public collections, including at Manchester Museum in the UK, and the original skeleton will form teh centrepiece of a new natural history museum in Abu Dhabi.
