The fossilized skeleton of a relative of T. rex that roamed the earth some 76 million years ago is going up for auction in New York this month, Sotheby’s announced Tuesday.
The Gorgosaurus skeleton will be highlighted at Sotheby’s natural history auction on July 28, the auction house said.
In a message on social networks from Sotheby’s you can see how they put together the skeleton of the dinosaur.
Measuring 10 feet tall and 22 feet long, meet the first ever #Gorgosaurus skeleton to be offered at auction. 🦖
Watch as our #Dinosaur is put together in our #SothebysNewYork galleries, open for viewing 21 July ahead of its sale in our #GeekWeek auction 28 July. pic.twitter.com/dqR9oIUh16
— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) July 5, 2022
Gorgosaurus was a carnivore that lived in what is now the western United States and Canada during the late Cretaceous period. It preceded its relative Tyrannosaurus rex by 10 million years.
The specimen for sale was discovered in 2018 in the Judith River Formation near Havre, Montana, Sotheby’s said. It measures almost 3 meters high and 6.7 meters long.
All other known Gorgosaurus skeletons are in museum collections, making this the only specimen available for private ownership, the auction house said.
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of handling and selling many exceptional and one-of-a-kind objects, but few have the ability to inspire awe and capture the imagination like this incredible Gorgosaurus skeleton,” said Cassandra Hatton, Global Chief Science Officer. and popular culture at Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s estimate for pre-sale of the fossil is $5 million to $8 million.
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