Thomas R Holtz Jr
ON THE RECORD · 5 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“concerns about the sale of Jodi are the same general concerns about all these multimillion-dollar sales of fossils.”
Thomas R Holtz Jr · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-27
Holtz, a tyrannosaur researcher, said his concerns about the sale of Jodi mirror his general concerns about multimillion-dollar fossil sales.
“At the same time this sale went on, some museums are closing (the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel in Philadelphia) or being threatened with closure (the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University) because of cost overruns literally only 1/10th that of the final cost of Jodi.”
Thomas R Holtz Jr · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-27
Holtz noted that some museums are closing or facing closure due to cost overruns that are only a fraction of Jodi's final sale price.
“can be lost to research and the public when they are in private hands”
Thomas R Holtz Jr · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-27
Holtz warned that scientifically significant fossils can be lost to research and the public when they are in private hands.
“potentially scientifically significant fossils”
Thomas R Holtz Jr · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-27
Holtz emphasized that potentially scientifically significant fossils like Jodi can be lost to research and the public when held privately.
“So a person really interested in paleontology could do vastly more good by supporting the ongoing operations of multiple museums than the sale of one specimen. And indeed, the total cost of excavation, preparation, and mounting of a skeleton like this is probably on the order of $1m at most, possibly much less. So a well-funded museum would be able to gather multiple good skeletons for the price of this one ‘trophy.’”
Thomas R Holtz Jr · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-27
Holtz argued that supporting museum operations would do vastly more good for paleontology than buying one specimen, and that a well-funded museum could acquire multiple skeletons for the price of Jodi.