A country's cultural heritage includes all traces of human activity in the physical environment. These are irreplaceable sources of information on people's lives and activities, and on the historical development of artistic and technical skills. Cultural monuments and sites are a source of emotional and aesthetic experience for many people, and modern society can benefit from the preservation and active use of its heritage.
Archaeological monuments are the oldest traces left by people.
Many of Norway's archaeological sites are rock art localities. A project has been started to ensure that this part of our historical legacy is not lost for ever. Only a small fraction of the country's historical buildings is protected by The Cultural Heritage Act. This includes a unique collection of wooden medieval buildings, including the stave churches. Nowadays it is considered important to maintain areas where a monument or site forms part of a larger entity or context, and not just to protect individual buildings or other structures.