Rare 150-million-year-old fossils of dinosaur trio fetch $15.7m at auction

Fossils from three rare dinosaurs — two Allosaurus and one Stegosaurus — fetched a staggering $15.7 million at a recent auction at Christie's in London, United Kingdom.

The skeletons of the dinosaur trio date back approximately 150 million years and were excavated from a site in Carbon County in the United States' Wyoming, the BBC reported.

After the excavation process, the fossils travelled to the capital of England in 12 crates and were meticulously rebuilt to be displayed at Christie's for auction.

"It is humbling to stand in the presence of these ancient giants and marvel at the wonders of our Earth's past," said James Hyslop, head of Science and Natural History at Christie's.

The Allosaurus and Stegosaurus fossils represent two of the most recognisable dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic era, approximately 150 million years ago.

The Allosaurus, often viewed as a precursor to the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex (T rex), was a formidable predator of its time, recognised for its sharp claws and a powerful bite.

In contrast, the Stegosaurus, an iconic herbivore, boasted distinctive armoured plates and spiked tail, which provided effective defence against predators and helped it adapt to a challenging environment.

"There is no complete dinosaur skeleton," said Hyslop as he explained to the BBC that all three fossils were enhanced with cast, sculpted, 3D-printed materials, and were displayed on custom frames.

In terms of fossils, the Stegosaurus has around 144 bone elements; the adult Allosaurus has about 143, with the juvenile version having 135.

Dinosaur bones can sell for millions, but auction sales have been criticised by some experts, who argue that fossils often end up in private collections which then denies researchers and the public any access to these significant discoveries.

However Hyslop claimed that, in his experience, "the majority of private collectors active in this area are keen to share their passion".

"In the case of the two most recent dinosaurs sold at Christie's — Stan, the T-Rex, and a raptor skeleton — both are now in the care of museums, or on public display," he said.