Sotheby's to Auction a Ceratosaurus, With Millions and More on the Line
In 1999, Brock Sisson was 16 years old and working at the Museum of Ancient Life in Utah. He was handed a box and warned not to drop it. Inside sat the upper jaw and nose horn of a young Ceratosaurus, a 150-million-year-old predatory dinosaur.
In July, Sotheby's will auction off that specimen, estimating its value at $4 million to $6 million. The sale arrives about a year after the Sotheby's auction of 'Apex' the stegosaurus, which sold to the hedge fund billionaire Kenneth Griffin for $45 million.
With the looming ceratosaur sale, paleontologists of both the academic and commercial varieties are expressing concern that another multimillion-dollar auction will distort the fossil marketplace. Driving more speculation, they worry, could further spike the already rising prices of fossil digs and lead to the duping of investors.
Experts at Sotheby's respond that such sales — by attracting the interest of potential donors — inject more philanthropy in the field of paleontology.
Prospectors discovered the ceratosaur, which the sellers have chosen not to nickname, in 1996 near Bone Cabin Quarry, Wyo. It is only the fourth Ceratosaurus skeleton ever found, and the only juvenile. The 10-foot-long animal is notable for its complete skull, made up of 57 'paper thin, super delicate' bones, Mr. Sisson said.
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'What do you think is going to happen?' 'We are woefully under-supported, yet the expectations keep rising. Essentially, we're being set up to fail… either by failing to reach their unattainable bar or by failing our health and family in thinking that we must continue without setting realistic boundaries. Heck, it could end where I cannot meet their increasing expectations, get let go, and cannot even use them as a reference. That would be ridiculous, as I'm a great employee. I feel destined to fail, and that's a horrible feeling.' 'Sounds like fear is playing a role, too,' I said. 'You bet it does! They have me: I am too strapped for time and finances to even look for another job. By the end of the workday, I'm beyond exhausted, have headaches, can't sleep, and am barely present for my family. Yet, I'm doing this for my family. That's messed up. Worst, I actually like my job. Heck, I'm great at it. But who cares? 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The weight upon him was suffocating, and I could tell he was carrying a burden that would eventually break him. 'That's speaking from a position of self-loathing and shame. Such thinking keeps you stagnant in areas where God has gifted you and given you talents to grow. There is nothing shameful about taking care of your health, not diminishing your value, and moving forward in full faith that God is opening doors you haven't even seen.' 'Opening doors I haven't even seen,' he repeated. 'I like the sound of that.' 'All I'm saying is keep your options open… you've convinced yourself that you're trapped. You're not. Even if things change for the better in your current job or it all falls away, the most important things will remain. And God will eventually position you on higher ground. He knows your needs. He knows you. Believe this. Trust God. And move forward, being okay with whatever outcome God provides.' 'Whatever outcome God provides. Yes,' he said. 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