Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and Answers

Do you provide COAs (Certificates of Authenticity)?

No, we do not include COAs as they generally do not have any real value or significance. But if you do truly desire a COA, we can provide one for you if you contact us before we ship a specimen(s) or leave a note at checkout.

Do fossils need any special care or storage?

Most fossils generally do not need special care, especially ones that have been stabilized/hardened with a plastic or consolidant. Like any collectable, they may need to be dusted off if displayed out in the open. There are exceptions such as pyrite disease in pyritized fossils or the crazing of amber which can be affected by humidity and temperature. Some fossils may also be affected to varying degrees from direct exposure to sunlight. Fossils can be damaged from being dropped and scratched from material harder than the fossil itself. But the vast majority of fossils can be displayed openly or in a display case without issue.

What does it mean for a fossil to be stabilized, hardened, or consolidated?

Stabilizing a fossil generally means that the specimen is soaked in a solution (usually a special type of plastic dissolved in acetone) to fill in any micro cracks and hold together a crumbling piece. This is different than restoration which fills in missing sections or gaps with clay or some equivalent such as the sand and glue mixture seen in Moroccan fossils. Not all specimens can survive a full soak; in those instances, the solution is typically coated with a brush. We generally try to always stabilize or harden a fossil if it hasn't been already.

Are fossils rare? Is it ethical to buy fossils?

Fossils as a whole are not rare. There is a big difference in rarity between a Tyrannosaurus skeleton that could go for tens of millions versus a single tooth, maybe even a vertebra or claw. The vast majority of fossils do not have significant scientific value. The ethics of buying fossils is subjective and what should and shouldn't be commercialized will vary among collectors and paleontologist. The big ticket items shown at big auctions are not representative of the fossil market and isolated remains like teeth and claws make up the bulk of commercially sold fossils. There are also debates on whether vertebrate fossils should be sold, only invertebrates should be allowed, only plants, and so on.

Do you sell dinosaur skulls, eggs, or claws?

We do not sell complete skulls of dinosaurs or any scientifically significant specimens; we may occasionally offer partial or fragmentary material of skull and jaw pieces. We may rarely offer claws, but we generally try to stick to more readily available and affordable types of fossils like teeth and isolated bones. We will generally stay away from complete eggs for multitudes of reasons, but will offer eggshells and partials.

Do you sell fossil ivory?

Fossil ivory is illegal to sell in our location regardless of whether the animal have been extinct for over 10,000 years. Thus, we do not, and will not sell fossilized ivory.

Why are Spinosaurus teeth so common?

While Spinosaurus is commonly portrayed as an elusive and rare dinosaur, the truth is, it is likely one of, if not the most common non-avian dinosaur if isolated remains like teeth are included. Granted, all "Spinosaurus" material being offered on the market either comes from the Kem Kem or Dekkar Group where they are more accurately labeled as Spinosaurini indet. due to multiple genera being present in the deposit. That said, spinosaurids in general are animals that lived close to water much like crocodiles and fish, thus their remains are much more easily buried and fossilized, especially their teeth which they shed and regrew throughout their lifespan.

Why do most fossil stores and dealers only carry the same species from the same location and formation?

Due to various laws and restrictions across the world, it is not surprising to see fossils only come from select few countries. Diggers will also prioritize deposits that have highly marketable species like Tyrannosaurus rex or Allosaurus over ones that only have obscure or undescribed animals. In general, it isn't worth anyone's time from a commercial standpoint to dig in places that don't have famous animals. Unfortunately, many of these obscure sites are largely untouched by both academics and commercial hunters alike. For the same reason people will only pay millions of dollars for a complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex at auction, new papers on fan favorites like Tyrannosaurus or Spinosaurus bring in all the views, opposed to indeterminate theropod B from X Formation.

Once in a while, a big lot of fossils from a rare or unusual locale will show up on the market. A good example is Timurlengia and other dinosaurs from the Bissekty Formation that came into the market in a big wave and quickly vanished after once everything was bought up. On rare occasions, fossils from a country that once allowed for export may pop up for sale; these specimens are otherwise known as "old collection", fossils taken and exported into a country prior to a ban or restriction. These events usually happen when a collector inevitably passes away or sells a big portion of their collection. Naturally, the more recent the restriction is, the more likely old material is still floating around as well. Most rare specimens are typically sold exclusively at major fossil and mineral shows.

Can you buy fossils of Velociraptor, Giganotosaurus, and Carnotaurus?

Unfortunately, some famous genera like Giganotosaurus or Velociraptor are not obtainable, or extraordinarily rare for private collectors. Though old collection material from South America and Mongolia exist, provenance, identification, and validity of those claims can be dubious.

Very little South American dinosaur material other than common "Saltasaurus" eggshells from Argentina were available even during the legal days, so do not expect to see any on the market. Any true old collection from Mongolia would likely be over 100 years old from the early 1900s; comparatively, fossils amongst the general public likely started becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Most bans in the last few decades may or may not have been in response to the rise in popularity due to pop culture.

A great alternative to Giganotosaurus is Carcharodontosaurus/Sauroniops; Acheroraptor and Saurornitholestes are good substitutes for Velociraptor.

Another alternative for these genera are high quality casts of real fossil specimens. Finding true casts of good quality is a challenge in of itself as a lot of it tends to be artistic replicas or casts of casts.

Why the anime girl Spinosaurus?

Why not? Spinosaurus, or more accurately, Spinosaurini indet. is most collector's first dinosaur fossil. Or did you mean the "anime girl" part?

Did you know that Tyrannosaurus rex lived closer in time to Japanese anime than to Allosaurus fragilis.