Field Museum

Click and drag SUE's Skull to rotate.

Modeling SUE

Take a 360° spin of SUE's skull in virtual reality

SUE's skull is both frightening and beautiful. But to scientists it is also the most important part of her entire skeleton. Why? The structure and arrangement of the bones in the skull provide some of the best clues about how SUE ate, breathed, sensed her environment, and how T. rex is related to other animals.

How were SUE's bones prepared?

Dr. William Simpson, Collections Manager of Fossil Vertebrates at The Field Museum discusses the techniques behind fossil preparation.

How do you become a fossil preparator?

Dr. William Simpson, Collections Manager of Fossil Vertebrates at The Field Museum discusses what it takes become a fossil preparator.

How did we choose a pose for SUE?

Field Museum researchers discuss the process behind figuring out the right way to pose SUE.

How has the process of mounting dinosaurs changed over the years?

Matt Carrano, Field Museum Research Associate, discusses the technology behind mount making over the years.

CT-scan of SUE's skull

In August 1998, SUE's skull traveled to California where it spent 500 hours inside one of the world's most powerful CT scanners. CT scanning uses powerful x-rays to create highly detailed images of an object--both inside and out. In SUE's case the scanner created 748 wafer-thin images, each just two millimeters thick. With the help of a computer program, its now possible to take a virtual journey through T. rex's head. Much of this is uncharted territory, and it is opening up entire new areas of study for scientists.