Imagine holding a piece of history in your hands—a history that predates humanity by millions of years. That’s exactly what’s happening this week in London, where a rare and potentially groundbreaking dinosaur skeleton named Spike is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some see this as a thrilling opportunity for private collectors, others fear it could mean losing a scientific treasure forever. Is this a celebration of prehistoric discovery, or a risky gamble for the future of paleontology?
Spike, whose gender remains a mystery, earned its nickname from its strikingly pointed skull. Discovered in 2022 on private land in the United States, this caenagnathid dinosaur is no ordinary fossil. It may even represent an entirely new species. James Hyslop, Christie’s head of science and natural history, recalls his first encounter with Spike: ‘I’d never seen anything like it. I knew instantly this was something special.’ With a guide price of £3 to £5 million (roughly $6 to $10 million), Spike is already turning heads—but some insiders whisper it could fetch double or more. ‘All it takes is two deep-pocketed bidders who recognize its value,’ one expert told the ABC.
What makes Spike so extraordinary? For starters, it’s nearly complete, boasting over a hundred fossilized bones. ‘Nothing like Spike has ever been seen in the fossil record,’ Hyslop explains. ‘Its closest relative was only discovered a decade ago.’ Unlike many dinosaurs known from a single bone, Spike offers a rare, detailed glimpse into a creature that roamed the Earth 68 million years ago. Slightly larger than an emu, Spike was likely feathered, toothless, and astonishingly fast—capable of sprinting at 40 miles per hour. ‘If this thing was after you, you wouldn’t stand a chance,’ Hyslop jokes.
But Spike’s story isn’t just about speed; it’s about survival. This dinosaur lived just before the asteroid impact near present-day Mexico, which triggered the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Now, centuries later, Spike is at the center of a booming fossil trade. Last year, Sotheby’s sold a stegosaurus skeleton named Apex for a staggering $45 million, proving that prehistoric relics are in high demand. Salomon Aaron, director of London’s David Aaron gallery, notes, ‘The demand is growing exponentially. People want dinosaurs that fit into their homes—something private-collector friendly.’
And this is the part most people miss: the ethical debate raging behind the scenes. While exhuming and exporting fossils like Spike is legal in many countries, some paleontologists worry that private ownership could lock these specimens away from scientific study. ‘There’s no doubt some dinosaurs will end up in private collections, potentially lost to science,’ Aaron admits. Yet, he argues, the private trade also funds discoveries that might otherwise decay unnoticed. Aaron’s gallery, for instance, prioritizes offering fossils to museums first. Earlier this year, he facilitated the donation of an Enigmacursor—a new species—to London’s Natural History Museum, along with research funding.
Professor Susannah Maidment, a dinosaur researcher at the museum, acknowledges the dilemma. ‘Spike could be a new species, something we’d love to acquire,’ she says. ‘But auction prices often far exceed what museums can afford.’ Despite this, she sees a silver lining: the private trade inspires amateur fossil hunters, fueling new discoveries. ‘What if fossils were offered to museums at reasonable prices before hitting the auction block?’ she suggests. ‘It could be a win-win.’
As Spike’s public display at Christie’s comes to an end, its future remains uncertain. Will it end up in a museum, shared with the world, or in a private collection, hidden from view? Hyslop is optimistic: ‘Most big-ticket dinosaurs eventually find their way into public institutions. Collectors want to share these wonders, not hoard them.’ But the question lingers: Who should own the past—private individuals or the public? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Is the fossil trade a boon for science, or a risky gamble with our shared heritage?
