Juvenile Ceratosaurus Fossil Sells for $30.5M at Sotheby’s Auction

A juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil was sold for $30.5 million at Sotheby’s, far exceeding its estimated value of $4 million to $6 million. The six-minute bidding war attracted six participants, with the winning buyer remaining undisclosed. This rare find, one of only four Ceratosaurus skeletons ever discovered, was unearthed in Wyoming in 1996. Measuring over 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long, the fossil boasts a remarkably intact skull, contributing to its high price. The sale, part of Sotheby’s “Geek Week” event, is the third-highest amount ever paid for a fossil at auction, sparking renewed interest in the fossil market despite concerns from some paleontologists about accessibility and preservation of such valuable specimens. (Newser)