A CONSOLIDAÇÃO DA ICNOLOGIA ENQUANTO CIÊNCIA: HISTÓRIA, CONCEITOS E MÉTODOS

Abstract

The consolidation of Ichnology as a science: history, concepts, and methods. Ichnology, a science bridging Geology and Biology, has undergone different phases since the initial studies on biogenic structures until its scientific consolidation. The approach to Ichnology as a science in this text raises questions about how to demarcate what is considered scientific, while also illustrating how Ichnology is characterized in this field. Thus, it begins with the initial ideas about biogenic structures and the interpretation that these structures had an algal origin, marking the “ Age of Fucoids,” which positioned Ichnology as a branch of Paleontology. With the evolution of knowledge, these interpretations were re-evaluated, and trace fossils were recognized as products of biological activity. Therefore, the current review article aims to analyze the evolution of Ichnology and the establishment of its current paradigms as an independent science. This text also aims to disseminate Ichnology, its main concepts, and methods of study. The discussion of concepts here is intended to provide the tools for ichnological analysis, especially for students entering this field of knowledge. Keywords: Ichnology, epistemology, demarcation of science, ichnofabric.