A Rare ceratosaurus for Auction: How a Fossil Sparked the Global Debate Over Science, Ownership, and Deep Time

By Michael Evans Paulson

A Rare ceratosaurus for Auction: How a Fossil Sparked the Global Debate Over Science, Ownership, and Deep Time
In July 2025, a six-minute bidding war at Sotheby's New York stunned the world. A rare, juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis-one of only four ever discovered-was sold for an astonishing $30.5 million, shattering records and igniting a firestorm of controversy. This wasn't just the sale of a fossil. It was the sale of deep time itself.
A Rare ceratosaurus for Auction uncovers the riveting true story behind the prehistoric skeleton that captivated collectors, scientists, and the public. From its dusty discovery at Wyoming's Bone Cabin Quarry in 1996 to its 24-year stint as a museum centerpiece in Utah, this remarkably complete fossil had remained scientifically unstudied-until it became a symbol of a much larger battle.
With gripping detail, this book explores the dazzling world of fossil auctions, the rise of dinosaur billionaires, and the ethical fault lines dividing private collectors from public science. It traces the long history of fossil commerce-from Mary Anning's windswept shores to modern auction houses-and asks hard questions about who gets to own Earth's ancient heritage.
Blending investigative reporting, cultural analysis, and deep scientific insight, A Rare Ceratosaurus for Auction is a story of bones, billions, and the future of paleontology. It is a book for anyone fascinated by dinosaurs-and concerned about what happens when the past becomes a luxury commodity.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FJFPPBPS
• ISBN13: 9798293459025
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 124 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"