ichnologists

Ichnologists are scientists who study ichnofossils, or trace fossils, which are the preserved traces of ancient life rather than their bodies. These traces include footprints and trackways, burrows and borings, feeding marks, nests, resting traces, grazing marks, and other behavioral imprints preserved in sedimentary rocks or, in some cases, modern sediments. Ichnology seeks to interpret the behavior, locomotion, life habits, and ecological interactions of the producers, as well as the environmental conditions of their surroundings.

Researchers use a combination of field and laboratory methods. In the field, they document trace fossil assemblages, map stratigraphic contexts, and describe their morphology and distribution within sedimentary units. Laboratory work often involves photographing and sketching traces, making molds or casts, and employing imaging technologies such as 3D laser scanning or CT imaging to examine internal structures. A central activity is ichnotaxonomy, the classification of traces into ichnogenera and ichnospecies based on morphology and behavior rather than the identity of the producer. Related concepts, such as ichnofacies, help interpret depositional environments by examining the assemblage of trace fossils present.

Ichnology bridges paleontology, geology, and ecology. It emphasizes behavioral and ecological inferences from traces, including how organisms interacted with substrates and how environmental changes influenced activity patterns. The field emerged in the 19th century alongside advances in sedimentology and paleontology, with key developments in interpreting trace fossil assemblages to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. Practitioners work in universities, museums, and industry, contributing to broader understandings of Earth history and sedimentary environments.