Earth Sciences Unit: "Scotty", the Tyrannosaurus rex

Preparation continues on the T. rex fossil excavated in 1994 and 1995 from near Eastend in southwestern Saskatchewan.  Staff at the RSM Fossil Research Station at the T.rex Discovery Centre and at the RSM are removing the bones by carefully chiselling them out of the hard ironstone matrix that encases them.  Once all the bones have been removed, then the full description, analysis and comparison with other T. rex specimens will begin.

Excavation of "Scotty", the Tyrannosaurus rex.

It appears that the skeleton is about 65% complete.  The skull is nearly complete, but the various bones have been disarticulated and scattered throughout the bone bed.  So far, there is no evidence that the forelimbs are present, but then these are rarely found because they are so small. About 30 of the estimated 60 teeth have been found.  They range in length from 3 cm to 28 cm.

"Scotty", the T. rex teeth.

How complete is Scotty?
This model shows, in black, what is missing.

Scotty's bones are on the way to Ontario to be copied and cast into a complete skeleton that will be on display at the T.rex Discovery Centre sometime in 2013. Below is artist and RSM employee, Jon Runolfson's sculpture of what Scotty will look like when completed.



Click here to read the news release.

For further information contact the Curator of Earth Sciences.

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