The spikey psittacosaur again

[HPB1956@aol.com]

Today (01/23/2002) there's a short report in my local german newspaper Weser Kurier. I hope that this doesn't mean that the examination of the "spikey" Psittacosaurus fossil and the publication of the results is in danger.


China demands return of dinosaur fossils

China demands the return of fossils of one worldwide uniqe "feathered" dinosaur (Psittacosaurus) and mesozoic birds from the Naturmuseum Senckenberg in Frankfurt/Main.

"We are of the opinion, that a responsible museum shouldn't buy and display smuggled fossils" writes the Chinese Society for Vertebrate Palaeontogy to the museum and the town of Frankfurt. The vice director of the museum refuses to return the fossils: "The Chinese ought to pay us the purchase price".

This case illuminates the problems of the international trade with fossils and the bad legal protection of such excavations in China.


Cheers


Heinz Peter Bredow