The Chinese government is conducting an investigation into the sale of a rare fossilized dinosaur nest, reportedly discovered in China, for 420,000 U.S. dollars at an auction in Los Angeles, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to the sale and is conducting an investigation into it," said Qin Gang, foreign ministry spokesman.

An unusually well-preserved 65 million-year-old dinosaur nest containing fossilized eggs was sold by auction house Bonhams & Butterfields on December 4.

The nest contains 22 unhatched eggs arranged in a circular pattern around the edge. Embryonic remains were found in 19 eggs and one egg was removed for study. Some eggs were so well-preserved that the embryo curled inside was still visible.

U.S. media reported that the dinosaur nest was unearthed in south China's Guangdong Province in 1984.

"If it is proved that the dinosaur nest was unearthed in China, the Chinese government will request its return back to China according to relevant international laws and conventions," Qin said.

Source: Xinhua