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Meet a Bone-ified Explorer

By Ritu Upadhyay

Ever since she was a little girl in Munster, Indiana, Sue Hendrickson has been in a good position to find low-lying treasures. "I was really shy and always walked with my head down," she says, "but my curiosity was strong." Hendrickson developed that curiosity and her instinct for finding valuable things into an exciting job. Now she is a field paleontologist.

Hendrickson became famous after making a colossal discovery in August 1990. After a long day of digging in South Dakota, she stumbled upon one of the largest and most complete T. rex fossils ever found. Fellow fossil hunters named the great dino Sue in her honor. "It was as if she was just waiting to be discovered," Hendrickson says. "It took 67 million years, but we finally got to her."

When she's not digging for bones, Hendrickson dives in search of sunken treasure. She has been working with a team excavating the palace of Cleopatra off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. The royal court sank underwater in a 5th century earthquake. "Sharing these finds with the world is the biggest thrill," she says.

Hendrickson, who lives in Honduras, has spent more than 30 years exploring in fossil fields and underwater. But it was the early years she spent buried in books that led her on her adventures. She hopes that other girls will follow her lead. "Spend some time volunteering out in the field with professionals," she recommends. "And focus on school. It will equip you to learn on your own."

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