The name given to ancient remains of living things preserved in rocks is "fossils." Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of once-living organisms from past geologic ages. They can include the remains of plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as their impressions, tracks, or burrows. Fossils provide valuable insights into the history of life on Earth, including the evolution of different species, past environments, and the geological changes that have occurred over millions of years. They are typically formed through a process called fossilization, where organic materials are replaced by minerals or preserved in their original state within sedimentary rock layers. Fossils are studied by paleontologists to reconstruct past ecosystems, understand evolutionary relationships, and unravel the history of life on our planet.