Well-preserved dinosaur skeletons provide insight into the lives of creatures that once lived on our planet. The skeleton of a Camptosaurus affectionately nicknamed "Barry" will be auctioned in Paris this October.
Discovered in the 1990s in the American state of Wyoming, the dinosaur was restored in 2000 by paleontologist Barry James, from whom it got its name. Last year, the camptozap skeleton was acquired by the Italian laboratory Zoic. Her specialists continued the restoration of the 2.10 m high and 5 m long skeleton.
Camptosaurus, a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the late Jurassic period, was a medium-sized ornithopod. Known for its distinctive beak-like snout and sharp teeth adapted for shredding vegetation. Although Camptosaurus fossils are not extremely rare, well-preserved and complete skeletons like Barry's are a landmark in the world of paleontology.
Barry's "journey" to the Paris auction house Hotel Drouot began when a team of paleontologists unearthed a skeleton in a remote region of Wyoming. The excavation was painstaking and meticulous, as every bone and fragment had to be carefully extracted and preserved.
The decision to put Barry's skeleton up for auction caused a lively debate among paleontologists. While some argue that such significant finds should be permanently preserved in museums or research institutions for scientific research and public education, others argue that such auctions can provide much-needed funding for future excavations and research projects.
In defense of the auction, proponents point out that it could attract a diverse group of potential buyers, including museums, private collectors and institutions that promote paleontological research. This increased competition could drive up the price, potentially ensuring that the sale of Barry's skeleton funds further discoveries and educational initiatives.
Barry's skeletal remains are accompanied by a comprehensive dossier of scientific data, including details of its geological context, dating, and detailed photographs and measurements. As the researchers note, this is an extremely well-preserved specimen, which is quite rare: the skull is 90% preserved, the rest is 80%.
Source: reuters.com
