2024-07-13 11:48:00
“Vulcan” is taking up residence at the Château de Dampierre-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris: the fossil of this apatosaurus will be on public display there from Saturday before being sold on November 16. More than 20 meters long and composed of 75 to 80% of the original bones, the gigantic specimen is the largest dinosaur ever auctioned, with an estimated price of between 3 and 5 million euros.
“THE dinosaur relatively large carnivores that were previously sold, such as tyrannosaurs.says Olivier Collin du Bocage, auctioneer at the French auction house Drouot, partner for the sale at Maison Barbarossa, another company in Paris. “We have the cutest and biggest dinosaurs, the one who is the first icon of Jurassic Park and Snowy cuts off a piece of his paw in the adventures of Tintin.“, he said.”It really is something that lies in the collective imagination.”prompts the auctioneer.
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The herbaceous giant which, when alive, weighed around twenty tons and was probably 45 years old, will be presented in the orangery of the Yvelines estate, the residence of several French kings in the 17th and 18th centuries: Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV.
From Wyoming to the Luberon
A “Vulcan” skeleton was discovered in 2018 in Wyoming, in the United States, where the law allows individuals to obtain concessions to excavate prehistoric bones. The excavations were carried out between 2019 and 2021 and were financed by a French investor. The fossil, which includes 300 bones, was sent to France for processing.
The company Paleomoove Laboratory carried out this restoration work over two years in its workshop in the Luberon, in the south-east of France. “We found large blocks of plastered rock, some of which weighed more than a ton”describes Nicolas Tourment, founder and director of Paleomoove.
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The bones were extracted from the rock and consolidated. Once we had all the elements of the skeleton, we took care of the metal structure to assemble it and give it a slightly movable positionhe explains.
“Dinosaur Piece”
For paleontology specialist Eric Mickeler, who evaluated “Vulcan”, the sauropod, about 150 million years old, has significant scientific value. Precisely, “What species is it?”asks Mr Mickeler. “It can’t be an Apatosaurus Ajax, it’s not a Ferox and it’s not a Louisiae either”He says. “It has the characteristics of all three if we take them separately, but none is 100% finished, so it’s very new.”says the specialist.
Another distinguishing feature: the skeleton has a protuberance at the base of the tail, a likely sign of a predator bite.
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The sales contract provides that the future owner promises to give paleontologists access to the dinosaur to study it. To identify potential buyers, Olivier Collin du Bocage plans to canvass in the coming months.donors, patrons, foundations and collectors in Dubai, China and beyond.”
The auctioneer does not rule out that a French cultural institution may show its interest by seeking donations from individuals.
It is a huge means of communication to appeal to patronage and allow the public to buy a piece of dinosaur to take into a museum.he advises.
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