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Dinosaur Fossil Returns Home After 30 Years
2 May
Summary
- A rare spinosaurid skull, 'Irritator', is returning to Brazil after decades.
- The fossil's acquisition by Stuttgart in 1991 was later found to be legally questionable.
- A global campaign involving experts and the public pushed for the fossil's repatriation.
A highly complete spinosaurid dinosaur skull, identified as belonging to a new genus named Irritator, is set to be returned to Brazil. The fossil was purchased by Stuttgart's museum of natural history in 1991. Its origin in Brazil and subsequent acquisition raised legal concerns, as Brazilian law dictates that fossils found within the country belong to the state and require specific permits for export.
Concerns over the fossil's legal status and ethical housing outside Brazil fueled a sustained campaign for its repatriation. This effort involved an open letter signed by 263 experts and an online petition with over 34,000 public signatures. Recently, Germany and Brazil issued a joint declaration welcoming the willingness of Baden-Württemberg and the Stuttgart museum to hand over the Irritator challengeri fossil to Brazil.
This restitution is seen as a significant step in global efforts to return culturally and scientifically important artifacts. Experts highlight its importance for Brazil and view it as progress towards a more ethical and less colonial approach to science. The case is expected to set a precedent for how institutions handle fossils with contested origins, although some express disappointment that the wording focuses on 'hand over' rather than explicitly 'repatriation'.
