A recent study by T. rex researcher Thomas Carr has revealed a troubling trend in the fossil market: there are now more scientifically valuable Tyrannosaurus rex specimens in private or commercial ownership than in public museums. This sudden change poses significant obstacles for scientists who research these famous reptiles. They are often hard pressed to make sense of their growth and change. Their discoveries were published on April 10th in the international Palaeontologia Electronica journal. They draw attention to the private market’s growing role in determining whether any T. rex fossils will ever be studied.
Carr’s study specifically looked at “scientifically informative” specimens—skulls, skeletons, and isolated bones that are essential for research. He thoroughly cataloged these specimens in public and private collections. In order to accomplish this, he painstakingly processed large amounts of primary data including museum records, auction records, and anecdotal reports. These findings reflect the truth that museums have historically been the largest keepers of the change fossil specimens. That picture has changed dramatically.
The Luxury Fossil Market
T. rex fossils have now become extremely valuable commodities in the luxury fossil market. When they are near-complete skeletons, they’re worth tens of millions of dollars at high-end auction houses. This trend is not unique to T. rex, as many other dinosaur species are currently being swept up in the commercialized market. Carr’s discoveries show that commercial companies are finding twice as many T. rex specimens as museums. This troubling trend begs many questions, not least of which is how these actions are affecting scientific research.
Fossil ownership enthralls a lot of collectors. In practice, only 11% of commercially harvested T. rex fossils eventually enter public trusts. This cyclical process exacerbates the dearth of available specimens for researchers. They rely on these fossils to provide important information about T. rex’s life history and evolution. This clouds the picture beyond the purely financial. Even worse, it has a devastating effect on the scientific community’s capacity to study these ancient giants properly.
Concerns from the Scientific Community
As a fellow T. rex researcher, Thomas Holtz, has shared his concerns. He is convinced the private market has a huge impact on the accessibility of fossils. He provides a compelling argument for the overrepresentation of juvenile and sub-adult specimens in commercial collections. Echoing the sentiments of Carr, he underscores the urgency of tackling this concern.
“Much like Carr, I am concerned not merely that there are good specimens which are not accessible to researchers, but especially that juvenile and sub-adult specimens happen to be overrepresented in the commercial samples.” – Thomas Holtz
Since the early growth stages of T. rex are rare, the opportunity to study their development is critical. These stages are largely neglected in public collections. Carr emphasizes the significance of these specimens, stating, “The early growth stages of T. rex are bedeviled by a poor fossil record, and so the loss of them carries the heaviest scientific cost.“
David Hone, reader in zoology at QMUL, gave a more sober and measured account of the fossil trade. His position was in stark contrast to almost every other voice discussing the area. He admits that even he has had trouble accessing specific specimens. He thinks plenty of research opportunities are left, even with the difficulties posed by private ownership.
“For a start, there’s not that much that can realistically be done about the commercial trade of things like this,” – David Hone
In fact, he went on to lament the fact that so few specimens made it into public collections. He said that there’s an enormous trove of information to learn from.
“And while I’d certainly love to see more specimens in public collections, there are still plenty that can be studied.” – David Hone
The Shadow of Illegal Trade
The problem goes beyond the lack of legal sales. Illegal trade in rare and scientifically significant fossils is an even bigger problem. Hone pointed out that T. rex specimens like Stan tend to hog the limelight. Even rarer fossils, which are traded more profusely and illegally and threaten our understanding of science even more, are traded.
“There are rarer and more important things that are being traded illegally that I’d be more concerned about.” – David Hone
These developments raise some key questions. Scientists are going to need to figure out the best ways to study privately owned T. rex fossils as they continue to proliferate. Carr’s study urges the scientific community to act. It calls on them to take up these issues and advocate for more equitable access to fossil specimens.
