As reported on international news recently, a complete 17 metre long, 160 million year old Diplodocus Skeleton was sold at auction for £400,000 in Kent. It was found in a commercial dinosaur quarry in Wyoming USA and took over two months to excavate. Amazingly, it is believed to be one of only 6 complete skeletons ever found. Quite a find!

The identity of the buyer was not disclosed but it was stated that the fossil will be put on public display. Possibly in a North European country. Although the sale was reported as a sensation, the price paid was modest – hardly exceeding the auction reserve. The buyer picked up a bargain.

Although £400,000 sounds like a great deal of money, we need to consider that excavating the dinosaur has involved days of digging and cleaning all the bones. This is a labour of love because when you start to dig a dinosaur you never know how complete it will be and for every complete find there will be dozens of incomplete skeletons, which obviously may not pay their way in terms of hours spent working to prepare them – even though every dinosaur find is a joy for the fossil hunter – that almost goes without saying!

Meanwhile the auction of the Montana ‘Duelling Dinosaurs’ (pic) took place the previous week in New York and the result was a no sale. This was very surprising as the ‘duel’ was between two fully articulated and complete dinosaur skeletons, interlocked in mortal combat. Outstanding. Bidding for the pair – a Nanotyrannus (smaller relative of Tyrannosaurus Rex), and a type of Triceratops exceeded $5 million but offers were expected between $7 and $9 million.