The study of ichnofossils such as coprolites provides a unique window into the palaeoecology and palaeoenvironment of ancient ecosystems. Coprolites—fossilized faecal matter preserved since the Cambrian—offer direct palaeobiological evidence of trophic interactions and dietary preferences of prehistoric organisms. Recent developments in non-destructive imaging technologies, particularly micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), have enabled high-resolution analyses of inclusions within coprolites, yielding unprecedented insight into ancient food webs. Despite over two centuries of research, however, important gaps remain. Chief among these are challenges in confidently linking coprolites to their producer taxa, understanding the mineralisation pathways that lead from excrement to fossilization, and establishing a comprehensive global framework for their classification. Furthermore, the recognition of iron-rich “pseudo-coprolites,” previously thought to be abiotic, has opened new discussions around the chemical and geological conditions that govern faecal fossil preservation.
This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of coprolite ichnofossils as critical archives of ancient life and environments. Our primary objective is to consolidate current knowledge, present recent methodological and analytical developments, and stimulate new interdisciplinary approaches to studying coprolites and related ichnofossils such as dentalites. By integrating perspectives from palaeontology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and sedimentology, as well as emerging biomarker and ancient DNA research, we seek to highlight how coprolite studies can illuminate relationships among faunal guilds, depositional settings, and evolutionary transitions. Key questions include how dietary and ecological data derived from coprolites can assist in reconstructing palaeocommunity structures, what geochemical indicators best trace the processes of faecal fossilization, and how Holocene sub-fossils from archaeological contexts can inform palaeogenetic and cultural dietary studies.
To gather further insights into coprolite ichnofossils and their role in interpreting deep-time and archaeological ecosystems, we welcome contributions from diverse geological settings and temporal scales. Submissions may include original research, methodological innovations, or comprehensive reviews.
Articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes are encouraged:
• Coprolites as records of dietary habits and trophic interactions in prehistoric faunas
• Linking coprolites to their producer organisms through morphometric, biotic, and abiotic indicators
• Classification frameworks and ichnotaxonomic approaches for coprolites
• Mineralisation processes and pathways of faecal matter preservation in different environments
• Reconstructing palaeoecology and palaeoenvironmental change through coprolites and associated trace fossils
• External surface traces (e.g., dentalites) and their implications for animal–substrate interactions
• Coprolite sub-fossils from archaeological contexts and their significance for palaeogenetic and cultural dietary studies
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and interdisciplinary contributions integrating palaeontological, geochemical, mineralogical, sedimentological, and archaeological perspectives.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Original Research
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
