Lot 13
THE TOOTH OF A TYRANNOSAURUS-REX
HELL CREEK FORMATION, DAWSON COUNTY, MONTANA, LATE CRETACEOUS, C. 67–66 MILLION B.P.
Auction: 28 May 2026 from 13:00 BST
Description
a well-preserved tooth of a Tyrannosaurus rex, with fine serration, Hell Creek Formation, Maastrichtian, late Cretaceous, c. 67 - 66 million years b.p., raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
4.95cm long
Provenance
Excavated in 2025 on privately owned land in the Hell Creek Formation, Dawson County, Montana
Footnote
The fossil originates from the renowned Hell Creek Formation, a geological treasure trove dating back 68–66 million years, right at the end of the Cretaceous period, just before the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. During this time, the landscape was a lush, subtropical floodplain teeming with life. Fossil discoveries from these beds include a diverse array of dinosaurs, reptiles, mammals, and even marine creatures, painting a vivid picture of a once-thriving prehistoric ecosystem. Tyrannosaurus rex had proportionally massive teeth, with thick, robust crowns covered in heavy enamel and serrations on both edges. Its 60 teeth, reaching up to 20 cm (8 inches) long, combined with an immensely powerful bite, around three times stronger than a lion’s, made it a dominant apex predator. Fossil evidence, including bite marks on Triceratops and Edmontosaurus bones, reveals its ability to crush through bone.