The skeleton of the dinosaur “Vulcan,” exhibited at the Château de Dampierre before an auction, July 10, 2024 in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris (AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
“Vulcan” has taken up residence at the Château de Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris. The fossil of this apatosaurus will be exhibited to the general public from Saturday before being sold on November 16.
More than 20 meters long and composed of 75 to 80% of the original bones, the imposing specimen is the largest dinosaur ever put up for auction, with an estimated price of between 3 and 5 million euros.
“The dinosaurs previously sold were mostly large carnivores, like tyrannosaurs,” says Olivier Collin du Bocage, auctioneer at Drouot and partner for the sale at Barbarossa.
“Here, we have the nicest and biggest dinosaur, the one who is the first icon of ‘Jurassic Park’ and who gets a piece of his paw stolen by Snowy in the adventures of Tintin,” he adds.
“It’s really something that resonates in the collective imagination,” enthuses the auctioneer.
This herbivorous giant, which weighed around twenty tonnes in its lifetime and probably reached the age of 45, will be presented in the orangery of the Yvelines estate, where kings Louis XIII, Louis XIV, and Louis XV stayed.
– From Wyoming to Luberon –
The skeleton of “Vulcan” was discovered in 2018 in Wyoming, United States, where the law allows individuals to acquire concessions in the hope of excavating prehistoric bones.
Assembly of the skeleton of the apatosaurus “Vulcan,” exhibited at the Château de Dampierre before an auction, July 10, 2024 in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris (AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
The excavations took place between 2019 and 2021 and were financed by a French investor. The fossil, which includes 300 bones, was then shipped to France for processing.
This restoration work was carried out over two years by the company Paleomoove Laboratory in its workshop in the Luberon.
“We received large blocks of plastered rock, some weighing more than a ton,” describes Nicolas Tourment, founder, and director of Paleomoove.
“We extracted the bones from the rock and consolidated them. Once we had all the elements of the skeleton, we took care of the metal structure to mount it and give it a slightly moving position,” he explains.
– “Dinosaur Bit” –
For paleontology specialist Eric Mickeler, who examined “Vulcan,” the sauropod, which is around 150 million years old, has considerable scientific value.
Assembly of the skeleton of the apatosaurus “Vulcan,” exhibited at the Château de Dampierre before an auction, July 10, 2024 in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris (AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
“What species is it?” asks Mr. Mickeler.
“It can’t be an Apatosaurus Ajax, it’s not a Ferox and it’s not a Louisiae either,” he says.
“It has characteristics of all three if we take them separately, but none of them are 100% complete. So it’s very new,” says the specialist.
Another peculiarity: the skeleton has a protuberance at the base of the tail, probably the mark of a bite by a predator.
The sales contract stipulates that the future owner agrees to allow paleontologists access to the dinosaur to study it.
In order to identify potential buyers, Olivier Collin du Bocage plans to approach “donors, patrons, foundations and collectors in Dubai, China and elsewhere” over the coming months.
The skeleton of the apatosaurus “Vulcan,” exhibited at the Château de Dampierre before an auction, July 10, 2024 in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris (AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
The auctioneer does not rule out the possibility that a French cultural institution may show its interest by soliciting donations from individuals.
“It’s a huge means of communication to appeal for patronage and allow the public to buy a piece of dinosaur to put it in a museum,” he suggests.
Apatosaurus “Vulcan”: A Giant Dinosaur Heads to Auction
The Château de Dampierre-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris, has become home to an extraordinary resident: the fossil of an apatosaurus named “Vulcan.” This impressive dinosaur skeleton will be on display for the public from Saturday, July 10th, 2024, before going under the hammer on November 16th.
Stretching over 20 meters in length and composed of 75 to 80% original bones, “Vulcan” is the largest dinosaur ever offered for sale at auction. With an estimated price tag of €3 to €5 million, it promises to be a highly sought-following piece.
A Rare Opportunity: Beyond the Average
“Dinosaurs previously sold at auction were largely carnivores, like tyrannosaurs,” explains Olivier Collin du Bocage, auctioneer at Drouot and partner for the sale at Barbarossa.
“Here, we have the most impressive and largest dinosaur, the one who is the iconic star of ‘Jurassic Park,’ and whose paw was famously stolen by Snowy in the Tintin adventures,” he adds.
“It’s truly something that resonates deeply in the collective imagination,” the auctioneer enthuses.
An Herbivorous Giant Finds a Royal Home
The giant herbivore, which once weighed around twenty tonnes and likely lived to be 45 years old, will be housed in the orangery of the Yvelines estate. This historic location was once a residence for Kings Louis XIII, Louis XIV, and Louis XV, adding an extra layer of historical significance to the display.
A Journey from Wyoming to the Luberon
“Vulcan’s” skeleton was uncovered in 2018 in Wyoming, USA, where the law permits individuals to secure concessions for excavating prehistoric remains.
Excavations took place between 2019 and 2021, funded by a French investor. The fossil, consisting of 300 bones, was then transported to France for processing.
This restoration work was conducted over two years by Paleomoove Laboratory in its workshop in the Luberon region.
“We received large blocks of plastered rock, some weighing over a ton,” describes Nicolas Tourment, founder and director of Paleomoove.
“We extracted the bones from the rock and reinforced them. Once we had all the skeletal elements, we created a metal structure to mount it, giving it a slightly dynamic pose,” he explains.
Beyond its Imposing Size, a Scientific Treasure
Paleontology specialist Eric Mickeler, who examined “Vulcan,” believes the sauropod, estimated to be around 150 million years old, holds significant scientific value.
“What species is it?”, Mr. Mickeler asks.
“It can’t be an Apatosaurus Ajax, it’s not a Ferox, and it’s not a Louisiae either,” he states.
“It exhibits characteristics of all three if we consider them separately, but none of them are 100% complete. So it’s very unique,” the specialist clarifies.
Another intriguing detail: the skeleton bears a protuberance at the base of the tail, likely a mark of a predator’s bite.
The sales contract mandates that the future owner grants access to paleontologists to study the dinosaur.
Seeking a New Home for a Extinct Giant
To identify potential buyers, Olivier Collin du Bocage plans to approach “donors, patrons, foundations, and collectors in Dubai, China, and other regions” over the next few months.
The auctioneer doesn’t rule out the possibility of a French cultural institution expressing interest, potentially seeking donations from individuals.
“It’s a remarkable opportunity to promote patronage and allow the public to acquire a piece of a dinosaur, potentially placing it in a museum,” he suggests.
