Dinosaur fossils are valuable in many different ways. They can sell for huge sums of money at auction but they are also important to science, because they help palaeontologists (scientists who study fossils) learn about animals that lived long before humans existed. Since the 1990s, increasing numbers of dinosaur fossils have been sold to private collectors rather than to museums. Some people are unhappy about this. They thing dinosaur fossils should be given to museums, where they can be carefully studied by scientists and be put on show for everyone. Others say fossil collectors should be able to sell their finds for what they are worth, even if that means they go to private buyers. What's your view? Should dinosaur fossils be sold at auction?
Yes – it encourages more fossil hunters It doesn't seem fair that museums have the right to own all dinosaur fossils. Why shouldn't fossil collectors be able to sell their finds for what they are truly worth? If that means the fossils go to private buyers at auction rather than to museums, then so be it. Many of these buyers are responsible owners who take care of their collections and many have loaned their dinosaur fossils to museums so the public can still see them. Besides, allowing dinosaur fossils to be sold to private buyers for lots of money builds interest in the area. This in turn encourages people to learn about fossils and go out to look for them. Without these fossil hunters, perhaps some important discoveries may never have been made.
No – fossils should belong to all of us Dinosaur fossils are important historical and scientific items, so they should be made available to museums and scientists where they can be properly studied and cared for. As records of the planet's history, they should be accessible to everyone – and the best way this can be done is through museums. It's not a good idea to allow objects that could reveal so much information about Earth to be sold at auction. What if the buyers aren't responsible and don't look after them properly? They might also keep them hidden from public view, so no one gets to see them. Nowadays, some dinosaur fossils, such as Spike, sell for huge sums of money, and it isn't fair if only the very richest people have access to them.
