Moscow exhibition sells dinosaur skeletons and meteorites
A Moscow exhibition titled 'Reliktum: Traces of Time' features rare paleontological and cosmic artifacts for sale, including dinosaur skeletons, ancient mammal skulls, meteorites, and a lunar fragment. The event, hosted by Stargift gallery, highlights the growing international demand for such items, with record-breaking sales at Sotheby's.
Consensus
- The exhibition 'Reliktum: Traces of Time' is held in Moscow at the Stargift gallery on Bolshaya Yakimanka.
- The exhibition features authentic paleontological and cosmic artifacts, including dinosaur skeletons, ancient animal skulls, meteorite fragments, and a lunar fragment.
- Some meteorites on display are estimated to be 4.5–4.6 billion years old, older than Earth.
- The exhibition includes a complete skeleton of a psittacosaur over 125 million years old.
- A complete cave bear skeleton over 12,000 years old is also on display.
- The exhibition includes mammoth tusks totaling 74 kg and fossilized dinosaur eggs.
- The exhibition is open until October 30.
- The sale of such artifacts is regulated by Russia's 'Law on Subsoil' and requires state approval.
- International auctions, such as Sotheby's, have set records for dinosaur skeletons, including a Tyrannosaurus rex sold for $50.1 million in July 2026.
- The exhibition format mirrors international auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's.
Points of divergence
- The scientific consultant, Maria Alferova, believes the boundary between scientific collections and private collections is becoming less clear. — mn
- The price range of exhibits varies from 2 to 200 million rubles. — vm
- The exhibition opened on August 25. — meduza
- The exhibition is described as the first of its kind in Moscow. — vedomosti
- The exhibition includes a lunar fragment found in a lunar meteorite. — mn
- All exhibits were found in various regions of Russia, including Yakutia, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Chelyabinsk, Ryazan, and Magadan. — vm
- The psittacosaur skeleton is listed at 12.5 million rubles and measures 168 cm. — meduza
- The cave bear skeleton is listed at 10 million rubles. — meduza
- The psittacosaur skeleton has over 95% completeness, a rare condition even in museums. — vm
- The Tyrannosaurus rex named 'Gas' was sold for $50.13 million at Sotheby's in July 2026. — meduza
Coverage (4 sources)
- In Moscow, dinosaur skeletons and ancient meteorites are put up for sale — Московские новости
- Dinosaur skeletons and meteorite fragments put up for sale in Moscow — Вечерняя Москва
- In Moscow opened the first exhibition of dinosaur skeletons, on which exhibits can be bought — Meduza
- In Moscow organized the first dinosaur skeletons exhibition-sale — Ведомости