Mosasaur skull on display in Paris

A jaw with many teeth from a Mosasaurus hoffmanni, a large marine reptile that could grow up to 17 meters long, is currently displayed at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris. The original skull was found in 1778 in Maastricht, Netherlands, and has been in Paris since 1795 after being taken there by the French revolutionary army.

Discovery and identification of the skull

The skull was studied by Georges Cuvier, a French naturalist, who identified it as belonging to a large reptile related to monitors, not a fish or a whale. This helped shape the understanding that species could naturally become extinct, a concept that influenced scientific thought before Charles Darwin's work.

Maastricht's claim to the skull

Maastricht has been seeking the return of the skull since 2023, but France has not returned it. The original skull was moved to Paris after the French revolutionary army captured Maastricht, and the National Convention ordered its transfer to the Muséum. Some fragments are said to have been lost during transport, and the fate of two pieces remains unclear.

Current status and controversy

The Maastricht museum displays a plaster replica of the skull, with a label stating that the original was stolen. In 2009, the museum requested the real skull for an exhibition, but France refused to loan it permanently. The skull is now considered a treasure of French national heritage.

Differing perspectives on the skull's history

John Jagt, a curator in Maastricht, argues that the skull was taken as war booty, while Dutch historian Peggy Rompen doubts the story of a reward of 600 bottles of wine for finding the skull. Maastricht's city council has supported the return of the fossil, and discussions took place in 2023 at the Dutch ministry.

History of the claim and local findings

Attempts to reclaim the skull date back to the early 19th century, with renewed interest in the 1990s by a former minister from Maastricht. France refused to return it at that time but offered compensation. Meanwhile, new Mosasaurus fossils have been found in Maastricht in 1998, 2012, and 2015, showing that the region was once home to these ancient sea reptiles.