A landscape whose use, construction, or physical layout reflects endemic traditions, customs, beliefs, or values; a landscape in which the expression of cultural values, social behavior, and individual actions over time is manifested in physical features and materials and their interrelationships, including spatial patterns. Examples include megalithic monuments, prehistoric landforms, and traditional agricultural layouts. Cultural landscapes are important records of history, art, architecture, technology, ecology, and human activity and interaction with these other aspects of life. They provide evidence about how people have adapted to their environment over time by making use of its resources and shaping their surroundings according to their needs and desires. The remains of buildings, roads, canals, and other features can also help us to date historical events that are not specifically marked on Earth science maps. Landscapes contain many different elements, such as plants, animals, minerals, and objects made by humans, that can give information about past environments and peoples' interactions with them. For example, archaeologists study trees, bones, and stones from ancient settlements to learn more about our ancestors' lives and ways of thinking. Cultural landscapes help us to understand how people have shaped and adapted their environment to suit their needs.