SerpApi.Org
The era of dinosaurs sparks a sense of wonder – and those who dig deeper into that world can find it surprisingly lucrative.
A craze among for owning their fossilised remains has pushed prices ever higher, making them an alluring investment.
Last week a T-Rex called Gus, dug up in Dakota, US, five years ago, sold for a record £37.4million.
This 67 million-year-old dinosaur comprised 183 fossilised bones and was 38ft long – a rare find as it was 63 per cent complete.
Another T-Rex named Sue, 42ft long and 90 per cent complete, sold for £6.2million in 1997.
This suggests a 500 per cent rise in the price of T-Rex bones in the past 29 years – with an annualised increase of more than 6 per cent.
Alister Cruickshanks, of UK Fossils, says: 'Over the past ten years we have seen fossil values double – with demand related to big and vicious killers soaring.'
Oliver Mattsson, director of Dinosaur Expeditions on the Isle of Wight, one of the richest dinosaur fossil sites, says: 'This T-Rex Gus is incredibly valuable as so much of the skeleton survived.
'Usually dinosaurs were ripped apart by scavengers as they died, leaving only the odd bone.'
Largely complete skeletons are prohibitively expensive, but there are ways to invest in dinosaur fossils without breaking the bank.
Terence Collingwood, owner of the I Dig Dinos shop in Rochester, Kent, says fossilised teeth are one of the most popular items.
He says: 'If you are not a multi-millionaire, a T-Rex tooth is a great place to start – and values only seem to go up.
'You can buy a tooth tip for £750, but for £1,800 you get a more impressive razor-sharp piece.'
One 5in T-Rex tooth which was estimated to fetch £18,600, sold for a record £41,900 15 years ago.
Collingwood advises: 'To make a profit, hold on to fossils for perhaps a decade.
'China has been cracking down on exports. This squeeze is pushing up prices because demand remains high.
'I know a collector who bought a Chinese Keichousaurus fossil for £150 ten years ago and is selling it for £1,200.'
The most valuable part of a dinosaur is the skull – and part of the reason Gus went for a record price was that his was so well preserved.
A T-Rex fossilised skull can sell for more than £10million in great condition. A decade ago, this might have cost you £3million.
Mattsson says: 'Dinosaur skulls are ultra-rare. Their brains were small [the size of a baked potato] but they were tasty treats.
'Other dinosaurs would smash up the skull to get to this meal.'
The only way to find a T-Rex in Britain is through a trader, as they never roamed here. Mattsson says: 'A more common dinosaur in Britain that you are more likely to find is a Megalosaurus.'
A tooth shard from a Megalosaurus can sell for £100 via traders such as Dino Fossils UK.
But Collingwood believes that, in future, less fashionable monsters such as the Spinosaurus might be a shrewd bet.
A 5in tooth of this creature sells for £300 – and you get an impressive looking tooth for your money.
Cruickshanks says: 'In the Jurassic period, only parts of Sussex and the Isle of Wight were land.
'Most of Britain was underwater. But fossils of marine reptiles such as pliosaurs – the T-Rex of the sea – can be found.
'I found part of a baby pliosaur jaw two years ago worth £3,000.'
When selling, you are usually better off going to a specialist such as I Dig Dinos because it can professionally value the fossil.
This can lead to increased interest from serious buyers and mean you have better access to the market.
But it also means accepting up to 20 per cent less than the market value, because the dealer will take a cut of the sale price.
Cruickshanks warns of buying from eBay as the market is flooded with fakes.
UK Fossils gives details of where to go hunting, along with guidance on the tools to take – everything from a toothpick to a pickaxe and chisel (ukfossils.co.uk).
The best place to find dinosaur fossils in Britain is on coastlines or quarries. This is because the remains are up to 100ft below the surface due to land movement over millions of years.
Coastal erosion can help expose them or enable fossils to wash on to shore.
Mattsson says: 'Key to value is not only rarity but condition. If you find something that looks like a bone – perhaps dark brown or black – take it to a local museum for verification. Or contact the Natural History Museum.
'They should hopefully provide a free valuation – as we can – and also provide help on preservation.'
Washed up fossils may be free to keep for a personal collection but on private property the landowner may have right of ownership.
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