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The Greatest Challenge to 21St Century Paleontology: When Commercialization of Fossils Threatens the Science

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The Greatest Challenge to 21St Century Paleontology: When Commercialization of Fossils Threatens the Science Palaeontologia Electronica http://palaeo-electronica.org The greatest challenge to 21st century paleontology: When commercialization of fossils threatens the science Kenshu Shimada, Philip J. Currie, Eric Scott, and Stuart S. Sumida As we proceed into the 21st century, the sci- responses to geological and climatic factors. Pale- ence of paleontology has achieved a remarkable ontology presently enjoys a new “Golden Age,” prominence and popularity, providing increasingly progressing by leaps while also serving, as always, detailed perspective on critical biological and geo- to inspire young minds to explore science and the logical processes. Spectacular new discoveries natural world. excite the imagination and spur new investigations, Yet at the outset of the millennium, three inter- while more abundant fossils studied using new connected, troubling challenges confront paleontol- techniques enable more precise interpretations of ogists: 1) a shrinking job market, 2) diminishing diversity, variation, changes through time, and funding sources, and 3) heightened commercial- Editor’s note: The commercial collection and sale of fossils, as well as the still developing regulations involving collection of fossils on public lands, have emerged as one of the most contentious issues in pale- ontology. These issues pit not only professional paleontologists and commercial collectors against each other, but have produced rifts within the paleontological community. Here Shimada and his co-authors vig- orously present a position supported by many vertebrate paleontologists. I repeat a call in an earlier com- mentary (Plotnick, 2011; palaeo-electronica.org/2011_1/commentary/mainstream.htm) for additional contributions that would discuss these issues that are so crucial to our field. Please send directly to Roy E. Plotnick ([email protected]) Kenshu Shimada. Department of Environmental Science and Studies and Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA; Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas 67601, USA. [email protected] Philip J. Currie. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada. [email protected] Eric Scott. Division of Geological Sciences, San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, California 92374, USA. [email protected] and Department of Biology, California State University at San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California 92407, USA Stuart S. Sumida. Department of Biology, California State University at San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California 92407, USA. [email protected] Shimada, Kenshu, Currie, Philip J., Scott, Eric, and Sumida, Stuart S. 2014. The greatest challenge to 21st century paleontology: When commercialization of fossils threatens the science. Palaeontologia Electronica Vol. 17, Issue 1; 1E: 4 p; palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/691-great-threat-in-21st-century SHIMADA, ET AL.: GREATEST CHALLENGE TO 21ST CENTURY PALEONTOLOGY ization of fossils. The first two issues are all too rather all paleontologists. For any scientific study, familiar to the majority of paleontologists, but they the ability to reproduce data is a basic prerequisite. have been common chronic problems in practically In paleontology, the fossils themselves carry, or all natural science disciplines. The third challenge, often are, the data. Reproducibility of paleontologi- commercialization of fossils, is a major developing cal data is permitted only through permanency and problem in paleontology that has reached a hereto- accessibility of all examined fossils in stable repos- fore unprecedented level of public visibility and itories under public trust. Fossils outside of the debate in this field (e.g., Pringle, 2014). Whereas public domain, such as those in private collections, so much misinformation still pervades public per- do not meet these essential standards. It is for this ception of the matter, it is alarming that this issue reason that virtually all high-level scientific journals appears to have not been fully recognized as a do not publish data obtained from privately-owned serious threat to the science of paleontology by the specimens. majority of paleontologists. The three highlighted cases also reflect a If one desires to purchase petrified wood, trilo- larger issue that has become deeply entrenched— bites, fossil shark teeth, or even dinosaur bones, it the public perception that “It’s okay to sell and buy is not difficult to find commercial suppliers. Many fossils.” The vast majority of the general population traditional rock shops carry such items. However, are unaware that the commercialization of fossils is sales of fossils have exploded in recent years even a problem, based upon our experience largely by means of the Internet, with commercial through teaching and various outreach programs. fossil dealers creating an enterprise where the sell- In fact, there are even people who erroneously per- ing and buying of fossils take place openly online. ceive that commercial fossil collecting is equivalent Another growing trend is high profile public auc- to paleontology. This matters to all areas of paleon- tions, where it is not uncommon to witness spec- tology because the general population also tacular fossils—including complete dinosaur includes lawmakers and top administrators in aca- skeletons—being sold to the highest bidders. The demic institutions (as demonstrated by the state new owners are rarely museums or other aca- park and museum cases). When decision makers demic institutions. The extent of commercial trad- lack a proper understanding of the nature of pale- ing of fossils is difficult to decipher because it is ontological research (e.g., when they are duped further complicated by the black market, where ille- into thinking that the monetary value of fossils out- gally collected, exported, and/or imported fossils weighs their scientific value), all paleontological are traded unnoticed by professional paleontolo- science suffers because such misguided percep- gists. tions then also contribute to a further decline in col- Three specific recent episodes exemplify the lections-based research. This in turn severely commercialization issue. In the spring of 2012, a affects decisions about research funding, employ- skeleton of Tarbosaurus (a Tyrannosaurus relative) ment, and job security in academic institutions. that was illegally collected in and smuggled out of Whether or not it's okay to sell and buy fossils Mongolia appeared at an auction for sale in the is a matter of debate on scientific and ethical U.S. (Williams, 2013). In the spring of 2013, a bill grounds, with analytical rigor and professional hon- (“HB 392”) that proposed to allow sales of fossils esty squaring off against free enterprise. Within from Makoshika State Park in Glendive, Montana, science, the integrity of the data trumps other con- was passed by the Montana House of Representa- cerns such as monetary value; this is both a practi- tives for consideration by the State Senate. Then, cal consideration and an ethical one. It is for this in the fall of 2013, a major natural history museum reason that the bylaws of the Society of Vertebrate in California put up multiple fossils for auction Paleontology (SVP) state explicitly: “The barter, (Pringle, 2014). However, diligent efforts by a num- sale, or purchase of scientifically significant verte- ber of vertebrate paleontologists resulted in repatri- brate fossils is not condoned, unless it brings them ation of the Tarbosaurus to Mongolia, successful into, or keeps them within, a public trust” and adds blocking of the Montana bill, and a complete with- “Any other trade or commerce in scientifically sig- drawal of fossils from the auction by the California nificant vertebrate fossils is inconsistent with the museum. foregoing, in that it deprives both the public and What was at stake in all three cases was the professionals of important specimens, which are loss of scientifically significant fossils from the pub- part of our natural heritage.” To our knowledge, the lic domain. Fossil commercialism is a matter that SVP’s stance is the highest professional standard not only concerns vertebrate paleontologists, but among all the existing paleontology-based profes- 2 PALAEO-ELECTRONICA.ORG sional organizations. It stems from the understand- paleontologists have no right to ask commercial ing that the primary value of fossils is their scientific fossil dealers to stop selling fossils. So, what can importance, and how they further our understand- paleontologists do? We here recommend strength- ing of the natural world. Consequently, the com- ening public education on this matter regardless of mercialization of fossils is fundamentally one’s area of specialty—paleobotanists and ichnol- destructive to the science of paleontology. It is ogists as well as invertebrate and vertebrate pale- noteworthy that the SVP bylaws provide room for ontologists—that unrestricted commercialization of commercial collectors to work cooperatively with fossils hurts the science of paleontology. Our expe- academic paleontologists to bring scientifically sig- riences suggest that those who didn’t know that nificant fossils into public trust. To be clear, the commercialization of fossils is a problem are gen- SVP bylaws also allow hobby collecting where con- erally quite receptive once they learn about the role ducted legally. In fact, academic paleontologists of repository museums and how the science of often
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