What is "ichnology"

Ichnology \Ich*nol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. 'i`chnos a footstep + -logy.] (Geol.) The branch of science which treats of fossil footprints.

n. (context paleontology English) A branch of paleontology concerned with the study of trace fossils. It can be divided into paleoichnology and neoichnology.

Ichnology is the branch of geology and biology that deals with traces of organismal behavior, such as footprints and burrows. It is generally considered as a branch of paleontology; however, only one division of ichnology, paleoichnology, deals with trace fossils, while neoichnology is the study of modern traces. Parallels can often be drawn between modern traces and trace fossils, helping scientists to decode the possible behavior and anatomy of the trace-making organisms even if no body fossils can be found. An ichnologist is a scientist whose area of study and research is ichnology.