vestige(n = noun.communication) shadow, tincture, trace - an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension"
is a kind of indicant, indication
has particulars: footprint

1.  The mark of the foot left on the earth; a track or footstep; a trace; a sign; hence, a faint mark or visible sign left by something which is lost, or has perished, or is no longer present; remains; as, the vestiges of ancient magnificence in Palmyra; vestiges of former population. [1913 Webster]
"What vestiges of liberty or property have they left?" [1913 Webster]
"Ridicule has followed the vestiges of Truth, but never usurped her place." [1913 Webster]

2.  A small, degenerate, or imperfectly developed part or organ which has been more fully developed in some past generation. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

vestige, n.
1 a trace or piece of evidence; a sign (vestiges of an earlier civilization; found no vestige of their presence).
2 a slight amount; a particle (without a vestige of clothing; showed not a vestige of decency).
3 Biol. a part or organ of an organism that is reduced or functionless but was well developed in its ancestors.

Etymology:
F f. L vestigium footprint

N  record, trace, vestige, relic, remains, scar, cicatrix, footstep, footmark, footprint, pug, track mark, wake, trail, scent, piste, monument, hatchment, slab, tablet, trophy, achievement, obelisk, pillar, column, monolith, memorial, memento, testimonial, medal, commemoration, record, note, minute, register, registry, roll, cartulary, diptych, Domesday book, catalogue raisonne, entry, memorandum, indorsement, inscription, copy, duplicate, docket, notch, muniment, deed, document, deposition, proces verbal, affidavit, certificate, notebook, memorandum book, memo book, pocketbook, commonplace book, portfolio, pigeonholes, excerpta, adversaria, jottings, dottings, gazette, gazetteer, newspaper, daily, magazine, almanac, almanack, calendar, ephemeris, diary, log, journal, daybook, ledger, cashbook, petty cashbook, professional journal, scientific literature, the literature, primary literature, secondary literature, article, review article, archive, scroll, state paper, return, blue book, statistics, compte rendu, Acts of, Transactions of, Proceedings of, Hansard's Debates, chronicle, annals, legend, history, biography, Congressional Records, registration, registry, enrollment, inrollment, tabulation, entry, booking, signature, recorder, journalism, recording, tape recording, videotape, compact disk, floppy disk, diskette, hard disk, Winchester disk, read-only memory, ROM, write once read mostly memory, WORM, on record, exegi monumentum aere perennium, read their history in a nation's eyes, records that defy the tooth of time.