Come October 3 and potential bidders at the Natural History Auction will have a chance to bid for a rare 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus skeleton dubbed “Samson.” The first auction by the company will be held at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Samson is a rare example from the Cretaceous period and was excavated near Buffalo, South Dakota, over 15 years ago. What is more, it also is one of the three most complete specimens to have been discovered. Originally prepared by scientists and technicians at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, “Samson’s” skull is considered one of the complete Tyrannosaurus skulls in existence. The entire skeleton contains approximately 170 bones. In life, “Samson” measured approx 40-feet in length and was most likely a very skilled hunter with binocular color vision and a compassionate sense of smell. The skeleton is beautifully prepared and mounted utilizing the most modern methods, which will aid in discoveries.
Besides Samson, the auction is expected to feature approximately 50 lots of high quality and distinctive dinosaur specimens and exceptional fossils. Paleontologists everywhere are sure to be drawn to these auction-like bees to honey.
[Bonhams]
