Volcano, a 22-meter Apatosaurus skeleton, sold for €6 million at French auction

A 22-meter-long Apatosaurus skeleton, the largest dinosaur ever auctioned in France, has been sold for €6 million (approximately $6.3 million). An anonymous collector purchased the giant herbivore for €4.7 million, with the total rising to €6 million including costs. The buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, plans to donate the Apatosaurus skeleton to a museum, ensuring that the public will have the opportunity to view this remarkable specimen.

The result of the auction was reported by AFP, and RBC.

The auction was conducted by the auction houses Collin du Bocage and Barbarossa. "This auction is one of the highest ever held for a dinosaur skeleton in France," Olivier Collin du Bocage, the auctioneer, celebrated the sale. The estimated value of the skeleton was between €3 and €5 million, making the final price significantly higher than anticipated.

The Apatosaurus, nicknamed "Volcano," is approximately 150 million years old. Its skeleton is composed of between 75% and 80% original bones, with 254 of approximately 319 bones preserved. The skeleton consists of 300 bones and was well preserved in hard sandstone, which protected the bones from deformation. The dinosaur, a giant herbivore weighing about twenty tons in life, is believed to have lived to the age of 45 years.

The remains of "Volcano" were discovered in 2018 in Wyoming, United States, where the law allows individuals to acquire land leases in the hope of excavating prehistoric bones. The excavations took place between 2019 and 2021 and were financed by a French investor. After its discovery, the fossil was transported to France, where it was restored over two years by the company Paleomoove Laboratory in its workshop in the Luberon, in southeastern France. The restoration work ensured that the skeleton was in optimal condition for display and study.

Before the sale, the skeleton was exhibited at the Château de Dampierre-en-Yvelines in Yvelines, about 50 kilometers southwest of Paris. The skeleton spent the summer in the orangery of the château, allowing the public and potential buyers to view the impressive specimen.

Under the sales contract, the future owner must allow paleontologists access to the dinosaur for study. The buyer pledged to allow the Apatosaurus to be displayed in a museum and must provide access for ongoing scientific research. This arrangement ensures that the skeleton will contribute to scientific understanding while being accessible to the public.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq