, according to the experts at Sotheby's. The 200-pound (91-kilo) fossil, nicknamed Maximus, is being sold on the 9th of December by an owner who wishes to remain anonymous. The skull was excavated in 2020 and 2021 in Harding County, South Dakota, where other T-rex skeletons have previously been found. Cassandra Hatton, the head of science and popular culture at Sotheby's called the area 'the world capital for T-rexes.' One of the most fearsome predators in the history of the planet, Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the Earth 66 million years ago. Most of the rest of one's remains were destroyed over time by erosion, but Sotheby's experts said the skull was a major find. Hatton noted: 'When you think about it, more people can fit a skull in their home than people who could fit a full dinosaur.' The 6 1/2-foot (2-meter) fossil is about 76 million years old and still has most of the external skull bones and numerous teeth, Sotheby's said. Hatton said two large puncture holes in the skull are evidence of a big fight, probably with another T-rex. 'We don't know that this is what caused the death of this animal, but we can tell that it did have a major battle during its lifetime,' she said. Marks on the skull are interesting to study 'because they give us an idea about what life was like during the Cretaceous period,' Hatton said. This specimen may not be headed to a research institution, though. 'It's the ultimate trophy,' Hatton said. 'To place in one's home.' MORE : Incredible fossil of tiny lizard that lived among dinosaurs found on the Isle of Skye MORE : True power of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs has been revealed){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
The almost complete skull of a full-grown Tyrannosaurus rex is going up for sale in New York next month.
Described as the ‘ultimate trophy’ the prehistoric artifact is expected to sell for around $15 million (£13 million), according to the experts at Sotheby’s.
The 200-pound (91-kilo) fossil, nicknamed Maximus, is being sold on the 9th of December by an owner who wishes to remain anonymous.
The skull was excavated in 2020 and 2021 in Harding County, South Dakota, where other T-rex skeletons have previously been found.