Dinosaur skeleton to be auctioned in Paris

A unique dinosaur skeleton, Dubreuillosaurus valesdunensis, will be sold at auction in Paris on November 18 by the Millon house at the Hôtel Drouot. The estimated price is between 250,000 and 350,000 euros, excluding fees.

Discovery and preparation of the fossil

The specimen, a holotype and the only known representative of its species, was discovered in 1994 in Conteville (Eure), Normandy, by André Dubreuil, then mayor of the town. The National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) and the CNRS conducted excavations, and the Center for Paleontological Research - Paris (CR2P) prepared the skeleton, which includes one of the best-preserved theropod skulls in France.

Legal status and ownership

The skeleton was displayed at the Paléospace in Villers-sur-Mer for several years but was not formally donated, allowing the Dubreuil family to reclaim it after André Dubreuil's death in 2024. The lack of legal status for paleontological heritage in France means that public institutions have no legal recourse to prevent its sale.

Cultural and scientific significance

The fossil is classified as a "cultural asset" in the auction catalog, and any buyer wishing to export it would need the Ministry of Culture's agreement. The state has the right to preempt the purchase under article L123-1 of the Heritage Code, but no museum has announced a preemption request as of the deadline on November 10.

Scientific concerns and debates

Paleontologists, including Ronan Allain from the MNHN, have expressed concern over the potential loss of this scientifically significant specimen. Dubreuillosaurus is a close relative of Megalosaurus and has considerable historical importance. As a holotype, it serves as the international reference for the species, and its loss would hinder scientific research.

Efforts to prevent the sale

Some researchers have questioned whether the fossil might actually be a young Poekilopleuron, the genus in which Allain initially classified it in 2002. The debate remains open, but scientists emphasize the need for continued access to the specimen regardless of its buyer. The MNHN and other institutions have launched a crowdfunding campaign and a petition to request the suspension of the sale, highlighting the potential irreversible loss to science and heritage. Despite these efforts, the legal framework allows for the sale, and the specimen's future remains uncertain.