Big John, Largest Triceratops Found, Is Placed On Display Ahead Of Auction
Image via Binoche and Giquello
Prehistoric skeletons like those of dinosaurs are often associated with museums and limited to individual galleries. But not Big John. Big John is different, and Big John is about to find a new home.
This triceratops skeleton was first discovered in 2014 in the US and restored in late 2020 in Italy. It has been displayed in museums internationally due to its impressive nature: it’s more than 60% complete, despite its age of 66 million years, with a 75% complete skull.
As it stands, Big John is the largest-known triceratops skeleton in existence.
Described by the Drouot auction house as a “miracle of nature,” it was found in the Hell Creek formation in South Dakota. Big John’s preservation is thanks to a rather inconspicuous property of the former floodplain—mud. It doesn’t contain biological activity, and this allowed the bones to rest for millions of years.
Big John in preparation. Image via Binoche and Giquello
”It’s a masterpiece,” Iacopo Briano, a palaeontologist in charge of restoration, told FranceInter radio. “There are quite a few triceratops skulls around in the world, but very few of them almost complete.”
This rarity is reflected in the expected price range when the specimen does go under the hammer later in October: it’s estimated to sell for somewhere between €1,200,000 (US$1,426,000) and €1,500,000 (US$1,782,000).
Big John, as its name suggests is, well, bigger than most of its fellow triceratops with a skull 2.62m (8.6ft) long and 2m (6.6ft) wide, according to the auction house.
The “large defensive bony collar” detailed by the auction house suffered some signs of injury, suggesting that it had been in a tussle with another dinosaur prior to its death, presumably over territory or courtship.
But it isn’t the first large dinosaur to have been sold to a private collector; France24 notes that a rare allosaurus skeleton was sold in Paris last October for twice its estimate, fetching over €3,000,000 (US$3,564,000). Perhaps this is the same fate Big John will see.
Its legacy of 66 million years first went on display at Piazza Unità d'Italia in Trieste, Italy, one of the largest squares in Europe. After its showcase from July 30 to August 1, it prepared for its next big event: the annual Naturalia sale by Binoche and Giquello at the Drouot auction house in Paris.
If you have the money and space to welcome this new member into your household, October 21 will be the date to note to get your big bid in for Big John.
Otherwise, it’ll be situated at 13 rue des Archives in the Marais district of Paris from September 16 to October 15 before being exhibited at Hôtel Drouot, 9 rue Drouot, on October 18.
[via The Guardian, image via Binoche and Giquello]
Also check out these recent news
