Sale of a “Stunning” UK Fossil Collection to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi Sparks Controversy
A British collection of 318 Jurassic fossils gathered by UK fossil hunter Chris Moore on England’s UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast has been sold to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, prompting criticism that the UK has lost significant scientific material. The fossils, dating roughly 200 million to 245 million years ago, include ichthyosaurs, fish, and crustaceans, and some specimens may represent new species. Moore initially offered the collection to the Natural History Museum in London and to Amgueddfa Cymru in Wales for an eight-figure sum, but both institutions declined for lack of funds, after which the sale abroad proceeded under local fossil-collecting codes requiring a six-month offer period to UK-registered institutions. The controversy comes amid a booming fossil market, following reports that a T. rex sold to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi for $32 million in 2020 and another T. rex sold at Sotheby’s this year for $50 million.
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This story was covered in Museum Shakeups, Auction Fever, and Digital Deluges