One legacy: ONE ICHNOLOGY! Richard Granville Bromley (1939–2018)

Abstract

It does not sound like much: one legacy... But the legacy Richard Granville Bromley (Figure 1) left is a huge one. Palaeoichnology cannot be conducted without knowledge of neoichnology; at least, behavioural interpretations are close to impossible. To bring both disciplines closer together, Bromley followed James Hutton’s fundamental principle, “The present is the key to the past.” He promoted interaction among specialists on modern and ancient traces and hence created the slogan “One Ichnology!” This view was exemplified in his textbook Trace Fossils (Bromley, 1990, 1996), in which traces and behaviours of recent organisms were painstakingly described in relation to their surrounding substrate. Unsurprisingly, this key to the past filled half the book. This groundbreaking publication wedded biology and taphonomy. Building on the foundation of the German-speaking school of ichnologists (Abel, Richter, Sch€afer, Seilacher and others), Bromley (like Seilacher) pushed ichnology beyond the purely taxonomical and therefore restrictive boundaries to a more open scientific field that also allows for advanced applications. Richard’s immense understanding of trace fossils and their recent counterparts was frequently conveyed through his dry British humour which often helped to break the ice. Everyone who knew Richard has her or his own memories about him. We have therefore chosen to tell his story partly through anecdotes. Richard Granville Bromley deserves to be remembered not only for his outstanding contributions to ichnology, but also for his great personality. In 2002, Richard was reinvited to give his biannual short-course on trace fossils at the University of Stuttgart, where LHV was a student. Shortly before, LHV had collected a trace fossil from the Lower Triassic of SW Germany and was writing a manuscript about it (Vallon & R€ oper, 2006). The course was the perfect opportunity to learn and get advice from the world-famous Richard Bromley! Courage was needed to approach him after the first day: “Excuse me, please, Dr. Bromley... May I show you a trace fossil I have recently recovered?” The master’s answer was short and conveyed with a friendly smile that whisked away the anxiety of a frightened student: “Call me Richard!” Presented with specimens of what would later become Tripartichnus triassicus, Richard’s judgement was devastating: “Gosh! I have never seen such an ugly trace fossil before!” Nevertheless (or just because?), Richard analysed the cubichnion, trying to find out how and why it was produced. The student took notes, fascinated by Richard’s knowledge and his friendly, humorous manner, not only in private, but also in the classroom. For the latter, he had prepared little animations of animals digging in sediment: a crab walking across the seafloor, burrowing, etc., all on acetate sheets he put on top of one another, moving them indidually by hand on an overhead projector. What a way to end a short course, with a selfcreated trick film! Although LHV only had a brief classroom experience with Richard, his style was similarly admired by students at the Geological Institute of the University of Copenhagen, where he was full-time lecturer. Many students, including KSSN and JM, met him in their second year when he taught carbonate sedimentology and again when he introduced ichnology in a course. Richard’s sunny disposition resulted in festive lectures, supported by slides from far-flung places and accompanied by wry remarks. Afterward, he would often spend considerable time elaborating further on any of