A History of Ideas in Ichnology - Trace Fossils as Indicators of Sedimentary Environments - page 23

Institute in Wilhelmshaven, examination of flysch ichnocoenoses in Italy, and
an expedition to the Salt Range in Pakistan ( Seilacher, 2007 : VII). Later,
Seilacher has put much effort in the use of trace fossils for paleoecological
reconstructions; recognition of depositional environments; trace-fossil evolu-
tion; and ichnostratigraphy, ideas, and results which are manifested in his book
on Trace Fossil Analysis ( Seilacher, 2007 ).
It is important to point out that, in the same period, the school of researchers of
the Senckenberg Marine Institute continued to achieve significant results, among
which are the works of H¨ntzschel, Sch¨fer, Reineck, D¨rjes, and Hertweck (Sup-
plementary Material). In particular, Reineck (1963) established a classification of
bioturbation from the North Sea as the basis of the modern bioturbation index
scheme ( Knaust, 2012b ). Based on neoichnological studies in the North Sea
and on Sapelo Island (Georgia, USA), G¨nther Hertweck developed methods
for the analysis of ichnocoenoses in the light of their sedimentological context,
environmental significance, and facies zonation ( Hertweck, 1970, 1972 ). This
approach was later developed into the study of ichnofabrics, a concept widely
used today ( Ekdale et al., 2012 ). An important milestone in the history of ichnol-
ogy is the Trace Fossils and Problematica volume by H ¨ ntzschel. Its second edi-
tion ( H ¨ ntzschel, 1975 ), chronologically corresponding with other seminal
contributions about trace fossils ( Basan, 1978; Crimes and Harper, 1970; Frey,
1975 ) and the history of ichnology ( Osgood, 1975; Sarjeant, 1974 ), broadly
defines the limit of the early Modern Era.
9.2 Early Modern Era: A New Impetus for the Study of Traces
Ichnology owes an immense debt to Seilacher, not only for the development of
clear goals and methods ( Osgood, 1975 ), but also for giving new impetus to the
study of trace fossils. Indeed, in many regions, the resurgence of interest in trace
fossils was largely due to the work of Seilacher. Seilacher had frequent contacts
with Jacques Lessertisseur in France; Roland Goldring in Britain; and Richard
Osgood, among others, in the United States. Osgood (1975) pointed out that, as
early as 1956, Lessertisseur authored Traces fossiles d'activite´ animale et leur
signification pale´obiologique , which gave an excellent panorama of the
discipline and reviewed the German work of Seilacher in French. This impor-
tant volume initiated the Modern Era in France although, despite the recognized
importance of trace fossils, ichnology was not considered as a major discipline
of the earth sciences.
Goldring et al. (2000) indicated that the development of modern ichnology
in Britain emerged from three main phases:
1. The pioneer work of Scott Simpson, who was familiar with the pre-World
War II work of Richter's Frankfurt School. From 1955 to 1956, Simpson
was the Ph.D. supervisor of Roland Goldring, who met many of the leaders