Inside the Booming Market for Dinosaur Fossils

The dinosaur fossil market is evolving into a sophisticated asset class, mirroring the structure and due diligence standards of the traditional art market. Salomon Aaron, a director at the antiquities gallery David Aaron, explains that rising demand from tech-savvy private collectors has fueled record-breaking auction prices, such as the $45 million sale of a stegosaurus skeleton. While the market faces ethical scrutiny regarding the privatization of natural history, commercial activity often enables otherwise unfeasible excavations, frequently resulting in significant specimens being placed in public museums for research. Authenticity and provenance remain paramount, with experts now utilizing rigorous verification processes—including bone mapping and third-party paleontological consultation—to distinguish genuine fossils from composites. This professionalization signals a shift toward a more transparent, albeit highly competitive, landscape for both private investors and scientific institutions.