科研之友
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摘要
The origins of ichnology are located in a land of convergence between Art and Science, in a historical period the Renaissance - during which the scientific method had its birth. Trace fossils were studied and graphically represented by preeminent naturalists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Konrad Gesner, Johann Bauhin and Ulisse Al-drovandi - who defined ichnofossils as "exceptionally beautiful".
In this study, the representation of trace fossils in the Renaissance is explored by employing a method widely used in studying visual perception - fractal geometry. In particular, this paper focuses on the reasons for the aesthetic appeal of traces and proves that ( 1) the aesthetic perception of traces is closely tied to their fractal dimension, and ( 2) many traces are aesthetically appealing because they have fractal behaviour.
In particular, graphoglyptids and chondritids display significant fractal-like features that are linked with their constructional program and function. Such fractal traces are hierarchically structured and their whole geometric structure can be regarded as an expression of self-organization processes producing correlations between different orders of scale.
- 出版日期2010
